AN INDEPENDENT business in Worcester city centre was surprised to receive its first King Charles III 50 pence coin.

Tim Evans, of Toys and Games of Worcester, received the coin this morning when taking a payment, and immediately recognised it was a new coin.

He said: "I knew straight away because the back of the coin is so different. The head side of the coin is very similar so you could maybe see one side and not realise at first.

"It was a real surprise as I did not know they were in circulation yet."

Production of the first coins of the King for circulation started at the Royal Mint last year.

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Worcester News: The memorial 50p coin in honour of the Queen. The memorial 50p coin in honour of the Queen. (Image: Alistair Heap/PA)

The move represents the biggest change to UK coinage since decimalisation, with a memorial 50 pence in honour of the late Queen appearing in the public’s change through banks and post offices from December.

In tribute to her late Majesty the Queen, the reverse of the 50p features the design that originally appeared on coins to commemorate her coronation at Westminster Abbey in 1953.

It includes the four quarters of the Royal Arms depicted within a shield, with emblems of the home nations – a rose, a thistle, a shamrock and a leek.

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There are approximately 27 billion coins bearing the portrait of the late Queen currently in circulation in the UK and these will remain legal tender, being replaced over time as they become damaged or worn and to meet demand.

Historically, it has been common for coins featuring different monarchs to be used at the same time and this will now happen with coins of the late Queen and the new King.