Royal Inspiration: The Story Behind the King Charles III 75th Birthday Coin Design – An Interview with Renowned Heraldic Artist, Mike Guilfoyle

Welcome to a behind-the-scenes encounter with a true artistic genius. Join us as we delve into an exclusive interview with renowned artist, Mike Guilfoyle. In this captivating interview, we’ll uncover the intricacies and insights behind his latest masterpiece– the King Charles III 75th Birthday Coin. Prepare to be enchanted by the inspiration, craftsmanship, and intricate details that make these coins a work of art, all revealed by the visionary behind the design.

You can explore the key features of the King Charles III 75th Birthday Coins, by clicking on the white dots on the interactive image below:

Click here to explore the whole King Charles III 75th Birthday Coin Range>>>

The UK’s NEW Coinage

The coins that we use every day are changing.

From the 1p to the £2, eight new coins will soon be entering our pockets and our piggy banks.

So, as we welcome the new era of King Charles III, both the ‘heads’ and ‘tails’ of our circulating coins will have brand new designs.

Read on to unveil The Royal Mint’s brand-new designs, learn about the history of Definitive coins and why this is the biggest change for British coins in 15 years…

The Coins of a New ‘Carolean’ Era

The coins, each designed by The Royal Mint, have been authorised by HM treasury and approved by King Charles III himself.

Over the past seven decades, our circulating coinage has undergone many changes, showcasing five different portraits of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse, and two distinct reverse designs.

And even though we have seen His Majesty’s effigy on the obverse of several commemorative issues, this will be the first time we’ll see his portrait on the coins we find in our everyday change.

All reverse designs share a unique feature, setting each denomination against a stylised logo with 3 interlocking ‘Cs’, representing King Charles III.

Before they gradually enter circulation, The Royal Mint have introduced the first strike of these coins in commemorative quality – with a special Privy Mark…

Inspired by Our Natural World

What’s more, each coin embodies King Charles III’s passion for nature & sustainability, presenting various symbols of Britain’s vast wildlife on the reverse designs. Having been a Patron of The Wildlife Trust since 1977, Charles’ affiliation for the natural world was a key inspiration for the designs of the UK’s new coinage.

The new £2 coin design represents the union of the United Kingdom with intermingling flowers from the four nations of the UK: the Rose, the Thistle, the Daffodil, and the Shamrock.

UK New Coinage BU 2 - The UK’s NEW Coinage

For the £1, 50p, 20p, 10p, 2p, and 1p, The Royal Mint have thoughtfully translated various wildlife creatures into innovative reverse designs.

For example, the £1 coin presents a pair of Bees, the 50p showcases a Salmon in water, the 20p a Puffin, the 10p a Scottish Capercaillie, 2p a Red Squirrel, and the 1p a sleeping Dormouse.

Finally, the 5p coin features a stunning combination of oak leaves and acorns – a perfect tribute to our natural world and England’s national tree.

The History of ‘Definitive’ Coinage

The eight different coin denominations which make up our everyday change (1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, £2) began circulating in 1971. This followed Britain’s shift towards Decimalisation, a plan which had been in the making for over 10 years.

Multiple artists participated in a private design competition, and among them was Christopher Ironside, the chosen designer of the decimal coins. Ironside’s designs remained on the reverse of the definitive coins for 40 years, until Matt Dent proposed the idea of spreading the Shield of the Royal Arms over the definitive coins in 2005.

“This piecing together of the elements of the Royal Arms to form one design had a satisfying symbolism – that of unity, four countries of Britain under a single monarch.” – Matt Dent

A Special Touch for Collectors…

The best part is, you can now secure the commemorative editions of the UK’s new coinage.

And in addition to new designs on both faces, these coins also feature a distinctive ‘Privy Mark’ on the obverse, a unique and sought-after element.

Designed to distinguish these coins from the ones you’ll eventually find in circulation, the first commemorative strikes display a delicate crown positioned alongside the effigy of His Majesty.

From the official Brilliant Uncirculated pack, to the prestigious Proof Set, or the strictly limited DateStampTM, you can click here to view the range with prices starting from £33 (+p&p) and secure yours before it’s too late >

2023 UK Darth Vader™ and Emperor Palpatine™ 50p coin design

Take a look at what makes the Dark Side so appealing…

So much thought and effort go into making coins the miniature works of art they are and designers will often include details for eagle-eyed collectors or knowing fans.

That’s true of the brand-new UK Darth Vader 50p. The coin, which features Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, carries an authentic depiction of the two iconic villains, but the designer goes beyond that.

Click on the points below to learn more about the coin’s design and the Star Wars universe that inspired it.

Which specification are you choosing?

The UK Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine 50p coin is available in a range of different specifications. Click on the points below to find out more about each one.

Click here to view the UK Star Wars™ 50p Range >>>>