King Charles stepped in to change design of £1 coin over fears it was 'unlucky'
King Charles had input in the design of the new £1 coins, it has been confirmed.
King Charles stepped in to change the design of his new £1 coin over fears it was "unlucky", it has been revealed.
The monarch's official effigy appears on three million coins that have been issued to post offices and banks across Britain. The new coins, which aim to show the King's "commitment to conservation and the natural world", entered circulation following the release of the new 50p coins.
The collection is inspired by plants and animals found across the four nations of the United Kingdom and each of the King's designs features wildlife ranging from salmon and puffins to oak trees.
The new design includes a "three Cs" motif - which is reminiscent of a similar design used by Charles II after he was restored to the throne in 1660.
The Cs were previously included upside down - until King Charles III intervened.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, chief engraver Gordon Summers, said Charles had an eye for detail and sought to make the change over fears it was "unlucky".
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He told the publication: "Charles felt that the C at the bottom looked like an upside-down horseshoe and looked a bit unlucky. That’s the level of detail he looked at."
According to a long-standing superstition, putting an upside-down horseshoe outside of a home is said to be a good luck charm that wards off evil spirits and bad luck.
Unlike his late mother Queen Elizabeth II, whose portrait faced to the right, King Charles III’s faces to the left.
Of all of the eight designs, a new poll by the Royal Mint showed that the £1 was deemed the favourite.
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In an attempt to make the coins more accessible - as well as to help children with numeracy - the size of the lettering has been increased.
As well as the 50p and £1 coins, the Royal Mint is said to be putting other unreleased coins - such as the 2p, 10p and 20p - out into circulation in 2024. However, this is dependent on demand from Post Offices and bank branches.
The yet-to-be-circulated 2p will depict a design of a red squirrel. A bee - which represents the Regency period, stands as another one of the eight designs.
