With the new reign of King Charles in motion, Brits eagerly await the opportunity to swap their notes featuring Queen Elizabeth’s face for new ones with King Charles’s image.
New Currency Issuance
The UK’s top bank has begun issuing new £5, £10, and £50 notes showing King Charles’ image. These new notes have a color scheme similar to the bills in circulation featuring Queen Elizabeth II.
Public Response
On Wednesday, collectors and the general public queued in front of the Bank of England headquarters to obtain the new notes depicting King Charles III, as the gradual phasing out of bills with Queen Elizabeth II’s face begins. Both old and new bills will remain in circulation until the old notes are gradually phased out. The plan to change the currency started immediately after the death of Queen Elizabeth to mark the beginning of a new era with King Charles.
Public Reactions
“It’s just the novelty,” says Lee O’Brien, an East London resident who was at the bank to view the bank building and exchange his old £180 notes for the new ones, although he had no plans to spend them.
A London collector, Jonny Blake, who already has more than £80 worth of special 50 pence coins bearing the likeness of King Charles issued in 2023, said he was at the bank to exchange £300. “I had nothing else to do,” he told the New York Times.
Why It Matters
England has a tradition of printing the image of the reigning monarch on their currency. After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, there was a need to print new notes featuring the new monarch’s image. Although the recent illness of King Charles had affected the printing process, his recovery has allowed printing to resume and notes to be changed.
Bottom Line
The issuance of new currency notes featuring King Charles marks a significant transition in the UK’s royal history. As the country embraces this change, the simultaneous circulation of old and new notes ensures a smooth transition, reflecting both respect for tradition and the excitement of a new era.
