Money: You can now mint a £2 coin featuring the King’s portrait

People can mint a £2 coin with the king’s portrait on it for the first time.

Visitors to the Royal Mint Experience – where the money hidden in your handbag or purse was likely created – will soon play their own part in royal history.

Minting a coin refers to the pressing of an image into the blank metal disk or planchet.

The term dates back to the days when the stamps were struck with hammers to deform the metal into the stamp’s image.

King Charles will sit on the “heads” side of the £2 coin.

Meanwhile, the “tail” side of the coin, which can be minted starting Friday, features a design celebrating doctor Edward Jenner.

The physician pioneered the concept of vaccines.

Since opening in 2016, more than 227,800 coins have been minted by visitors to the Royal Mint Experience in Llantrisant, South Wales.

Before that, visitors could mint their own commemorative coin for Queen Elizabeth II, as well as a Harry Potter 50p.

The mint said it is the first time visitors can mint a £2 coin featuring Charles’ effigy.

Dan Johnson, Visitor Attractions Manager, said: “The changing of the monarch is such a significant event in British history and we are delighted to welcome visitors to the Royal Mint Experience and offer them the opportunity to be a part of this momentous occasion historical occasion.’

Visitors are charged an additional £7.50 to mint their own coin as part of their tour.

The £2 coin honoring Edward Jenner will also be available on the Royal Mint’s website from 26 January.

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