The Full Story

A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.

New coins bearing the portrait of King Charles have entered circulation across the UK. More than 7 million of the coins are being released, according to reports. The reverse of the coin features a bird, described as a capercaillie. This is the first time the King's face has appeared on a British coin.

The coins are now being distributed and will appear in change across the country. The release marks a significant moment in the transition from the late Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles. The coins will gradually replace older ones, though existing coins remain legal tender.

The exact design and denominations have not been fully detailed, but the initial release includes a coin with a bird on the reverse. The Royal Mint is overseeing the production and distribution. For the public, the new coins will be a visible sign of the new reign.

The number of coins entering circulation today is more than 7 million, a substantial initial batch. The coins are expected to be found in everyday transactions in the coming weeks.

On screen

Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.

Channel 5, 5 News at Lunchtime, 25 August 2026

Key Claims

Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.

Claim Channel 5
More than 7 million coins featuring King Charles's portrait are entering circulation.
The King's face appears on a coin for the first time.
The reverse of the coin features a bird.

Channel Perspectives

What each channel focused on, with key quotes.

The channel covered the coin story as a brief item at the end of a bulletin, after a report on caffeine levels in coffee. It presented the coin release as a practical tip for viewers to 'check your change', and gave the key facts: first time King's face on a coin, 7 million coins, bird on reverse. The tone was light and informational, with no further analysis.

Key Quotes:
  • “check your change, the King's face is on a new coin for the first time”
  • “More than 7 million Tempe coins bearing Charles' portrait are entering circulation today, featuring a caper kelly bird on the reverse.”

Broadcast Timeline

News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.

5 News at Lunchtime