Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint, said: “As we release more of the King Charles III £1 coins into circulation alongside the final coins of Queen Elizabeth II, we’re witnessing the physical representation of our monarchy’s transition.”
She said she hoped finding the new coins in your change could “spark a rewarding hobby” for some, with the Royal Mint encouraging people to check to see if they receive any in the coming weeks.
While the coins were struck up to four years ago, they are being issued now because of demand for £1 coins, the Royal Mint said.
The 2022 coins will become the rarest in circulation, they added, with 7.735 million of those being released.
There are about 24.7 billion coins in circulation across the UK, with the King’s coins currently only making up 0.004% of those.
Some 2.975 million £1 coins featuring the King were released last August by the Royal Mint, based in Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf.
They feature an intricate bee design on the tails side, representing his love of nature.