Information about effigy: King Charles III - First Crowned Portrait

Following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II, His Majesty King Charles III acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, signalling the beginning of a new era for the United Kingdom and its coinage, as well as the coinage of all Commonwealth states in which he is also the sovereign.

The first definitive portrait of King Charles III was released on 3 October 2022 and was designed by British sculptor Martin Jennings.

On 24 April 2023 the Royal Mint released a crowned version of this effigy, developed for a commemorative coin range celebrating the upcoming coronation of the monarch on 6 May 2023. The portrait, personally approved by His Majesty, shows him crowned, facing left; in tiny letters below the neck truncation are the designer's initials MJ.

Interestingly, the King is shown wearing the Tudor Crown - which was destroyed in the 1640s; this is not the first time this crown is depicted on coinage though - it was also used for the crowned portrait of King George VI by Percy Metcalfe.

Crowned King Charles III on a gold ounce coin

United Kingdom / Gold Ounce 2023 King Charles III Coronation, Proof

The portraits was developed for a range of coronation commemoratives, which includes the one-ounce gold format.