The Royal Mint has announced that the first coins to bear the effigy of King Charles III have officially entered circulation today.
In what marks the historic transition from Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles III on the public's money, following the passing of the former back in September after 70 years on the throne, the first coins to bear The King’s portrait - are 50 pence pieces, and they will start to appear in circulation in Post Offices around the UK from today.
The coins not only bear The King's face, but are also said to commemorate the life and legacy of the late monarch.
The reverse of the 50 pence features a design that originally appeared on the 1953 Coronation Crown, and includes the four quarters of the Royal Arms depicted within a shield, and in between each shield is an emblem of the home nations - a rose, a thistle, a shamrock, and a leek.
4.9 million 50 pence coins with King Charles III's face on have been sent to UK Post Offices today.
The coin will first begin being distributing as change when customers make a purchase in store, The Royal Mint explains, before a total of 9.6 million 50ps eventually enter circulation in line with the public demand for them.
"Today marks a new era for UK coinage," commented Rebecca Morgan, Director of Collector Services at The Royal Mint.
"It’s a fantastic opportunity for coin collectors to add to their collections, or start one for the first time. We anticipate a new generation of coin collectors emerging, with people keeping a close eye on their change to try and spot a new 50p that bears the portrait of our new King.
"The Royal Mint has been trusted to make coins bearing the Monarch’s effigy for over 1,100 years and we are proud to continue this tradition into the reign of King Charles III."
Also speaking as the coins enter circulation today, Nick Read - Chief Executive Office of the Post Office - said: "It is a tremendous honour for the Post Office that the first coinage featuring King Charles III is being released into circulation via our extensive branch network.
"December is our busiest time of the year so the coin will be entering our network in a phased manner.
"If you don’t receive the new 50p in your change on your first visit to a Post Office, you may well get it in your change in a subsequent visit, so keep a look out for it."
Coins with King Charles III's face on have officially entered circulation today / Credit: Royal Mint
All approximately 27 billion UK coins with Queen Elizabeth II's face on will remain legal tender and in active circulation, and will eventually be replaced over time as they become damaged or worn and to meet demand for new coins.
The Royal Mint explains that historically, it has been commonplace for coins featuring the effigies of different monarchs to co-circulate.
"This ensures a smooth transition, with minimal environmental impact, and cost," The Royal Mint said.
Featured Image - Royal Mint
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Inside Moida, the new Korean beauty and skincare store in Leeds city centre
If your skincare routine has been needing an upgrade, there's some good news waiting for you inside Trinity Leeds.
The shopping centre has just welcomed Moida, a brand-new beauty retailer specialising in authentic Korean skincare, bringing some of the world's most sought-after K-beauty products to Leeds.
Named after the Korean word meaning 'to gather' or 'come together', moida is all about making Korean skincare easy to discover and accessible for everyone.
Inside the new store that has taken over the old Claire's Accessories site, shoppers can expect an extensive range of handpicked products from some of the biggest names in K-beauty, including Beauty of Joseon, Dr. Althea, TIRTIR, Medicube, Biodance, and more cult-favourite brands.
The collection has been curated by a team of Korean beauty experts with close links to Korea, meaning customers can expect everything from viral TikTok sensations to exclusive products that are often difficult to get hold of elsewhere in the UK.
Moida K-Beauty has opened in Trinity Leeds. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Steven Foster, Centre Director at Trinity Leeds, said: "With Korean skincare still increasing in popularity, moida brings an exciting new concept to the centre. Offering guests viral products alongside everyday essentials, plus the chance to browse new brands in-store will be a fantastic experience.
"We know moida is going to be a brilliant addition for both existing fans of K-beauty and those keen to discover it for the first time."
It's the latest announcement following the recent launches of Lane7, Footasylum, LEGO, Jerk Junction, The Fragrance Shop and schuh at Trinity Leeds.
Leeds man jailed for life after being found guilty of dozens of sexual and physical assault offences
Emily Sergeant
A man from Leeds has been jailed for life after being found guilty of dozens of sexual and physical assault offences.
Paul Benstock - aged 62, of Appletree Court in the village of East Ardsley - appeared at Leeds Crown Court last week where he was sentenced after being convicted of more than 40 offences committed against five victims,
Following a Leeds Safeguarding investigation, Benstock was found guilty of a number of sexual offences and physical assaults against both adult and child victims, including 14 counts of rape - with these offences having thought to have taken place over a 22-year period between 1998 and 2020.
Benstock was also identified as being involved in the making of indecent images of children following an operation by the National Crime Agency’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP), and was also found guilty of these offences.
"Much of Benstock’s offending was against victims who were children at the time," explained Detective Sergeant Michelle Barnes, of Leeds Safeguarding Unit.
"His victims have shown incredible bravery in giving us detailed accounts of what has taken place and then again supporting the trial process by giving evidence when Benstock refused to take accountability for his awful crimes."
Benstock was sentenced to 37 years imprisonment.
He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, West Yorkshire Police has confirmed.
Emily Sergeant -
8th December 2022 
