It marked the beginning of a great transition, in which the pomp, iconography and even the language of British everyday life would need to adapt to a new, male, sovereign. Get coin. There are currently £4.5bn worth of £80bn worth of the late Queen’s face in circulation – all will remain legal tender but will gradually be replaced with the King’s image. It is expected to take at least two years to design and release a new note. The issue has not arisen in the past because Queen Elizabeth II was the first monarch to appear on British banknotes – her face was used on the £1 note in 1960. Before then, the notes featured Britannia, her emblem Bank of England since it was founded in 1694. New coins featuring the King should also be minted, but are not expected to appear in general circulation for some time. The advisory committee of the Royal Mint must send recommendations for new coins to the Chancellor and receive royal assent. The Queen’s coins did not appear until 1953 – the year after her accession. Queen Elizabeth II coins are expected to remain in use until they are phased out. It was common in the past to find coins of different monarchs in circulation at the same time. The Royal Mint said a further announcement on the timing of the change will be made after the mourning period is over. When the new coins are minted, the King is expected to face to the left, the opposite direction from the late Queen – a tradition that has been in place since the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. Only Edward VIII broke this tradition, but he had abdicated before the original coins were issued. Stamps and military medals will also change to a silhouette of the King once an image is agreed, while passports will now be issued in the King’s name.
