Millions of 10p coins with King on enter circulation

You may start seeing some new 10p coins with the King's portrait in your pocket money after more than seven million were put into circulation today.

The Royal Mint - which makes the UK's coins - has said it's the first time 10p coins with King Charles's portrait have been released.

It said 600,000 2023 dated and 6.5 million 2026 dated 10p coins featuring Charles will be distributed.

The 10ps are the fourth coin with King Charles's portrait to enter circulation, following on from the 5p, 50p and £1 coins which have already been released.

The new 10p coins feature the capercaillie bird, a big woodland grouse, on the reverse.

The design is part of a collection with plants and animals from the United Kingdom, which is meant to reflect the King's passion for conservation.

Although not endangered in Europe and Asia, the capercaillie is critically endangered in the UK.

Rebecca Morgan "We hope that by putting this extraordinary bird into millions of pockets and purses, we can spark a nationwide conversation about a species at real risk of vanishing from Britain forever."

The Mint has said the coins are being released due to increased demand for the 10p denomination.

UK coins showing the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II will remain in circulation and can still be used.

The new coins will be available through post offices and bank branches.

They will make up a small amount of the 24.142 billion coins in circulation across the UK, the Mint said.

A recent report from banking and finance industry body, UK Finance, found that there are still a lot of people that use physical coins and banknotes.

It said around 1.4 million adults in the UK mainly use cash for their day-to-day spending and 19 million use cash once a month or less frequently.