The Royal Mint will release more than seven million 10p coins bearing King Charles III’s portrait into circulation—about 600,000 from 2023 dated coins and 6.5 million from 2026 dated coins—beginning today across the UK.

The reverse of these 10p coins features the capercaillie, marking a conservation message and highlighting the bird’s population decline and extinction risk to spur nationwide discussion about species at risk.

This wildlife-themed 10p coin series reflects the King’s conservation interests and is part of a broader collection celebrating British flora and fauna.

The coin changes come amid a broader move away from cash, as the UK modernizes currency and payment methods.

As cash usage declines and digital payments rise, the introduction of the King’s coin portraits into everyday circulation signals a cultural and symbolic shift in the currency.

Public engagement notes that future banknotes may feature wildlife imagery, replacing historical figures such as Winston Churchill on several denominations, subject to security considerations and decisions by the Bank of England after autumn consultations.

The rollout underscores a broader push for wildlife-themed currency and increasing public awareness of conservation issues.

Decimally minted in 1971, the 10p denomination has evolved alongside decimal coinage and older designs continued in use until the 1990s.

Historically, the 10p coin’s reverse designs changed over time, with the 1968 crowned lion motif and later redesigns culminating in the 2008 Royal Shield integration.

UK Finance notes that cash remains essential for some groups, with 1.4 million adults spending daily in cash and 19 million using cash monthly or less, while cash payments fell from 4.3 billion to 3.9 billion in 2025.

Looking ahead, cash is projected to account for about 4% of payments by 2035, roughly two billion transactions annually.

Overall, the data show a continued, uneven transition away from cash, despite ongoing reliance for certain populations.