The 2026 United Kingdom Precious Metals Annual Sets

The Royal Mint has today unveiled the first coins of 2026, featuring a selection commemorating milestone anniversaries, including 100 years of the Grand Prix in Britain, 200 years of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), and the 100th birthday of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Two new 50p coins will celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the Grand Prix in Britain, and 50 years of The King’s Trust. Two new £2 coins will celebrate 200 years of the ZSL and the 200^th anniversary of HMS Beagle. The first £5 coin to be revealed in 2026 celebrates the 100^th birthday of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest reigning monarch.

In a first for The Royal Mint, 52 gold commemorative versions of the 2026 collection have been crafted using recycled gold. In partnership with Sempsa, the gold found in the Annual Sets has been recycled from old jewellery and coins. This represents a significant milestone in The Royal Mint's commitment to using sustainably sourced precious metals whilst maintaining the exceptional quality and purity of official UK coinage. The Royal Mint aims to produce all gold commemorative coins from recycled gold by the end of 2026.

Rebecca Morgan, Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint, said: “This is an exciting moment for the nation to discover some of the anniversaries that will be celebrated on UK coins in 2026. Whether you're a Royal enthusiast, a motor racing fan, or passionate about conservation, there's something for everyone in this collection. Coins have a unique ability to mark a variety of themes that resonate across different communities and interests, creating lasting reminders of the moments and institutions that shape our shared heritage.”

Rebecca continues, “We are also delighted to be introducing recycled gold into a limited number of commemorative coins. This move demonstrates our commitment to a more sustainable future for The Royal Mint, preserving finite precious metal resources and supporting a circular economy.”

This is the latest step in The Royal Mint’s transformation journey. In 2024, the pioneering Reformation Metals facility was launched at its manufacturing site in South Wales, where gold is recovered from end-of-life technology such as laptops, TVs, and mobile phones, and used in jewellery and lifestyle products.

Working with Betts Metals, The Royal Mint also uses silver from industrial and medical X-ray films in products such as the silver Sixpence.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Elizabeth II's birth. Alongside her many achievements during her
record-setting tenure as the longest-reigning monarch in British history, Elizabeth II has appeared on more
UK coins than any other British monarch. As The Royal Mint marks the centenary of Elizabeth II’s birth,
it proudly honours the monarch’s legacy with a UK coin featuring a reverse design by renowned heraldic
artist Timothy Noad. The coin also features a poignant edge inscription that reads ‘A LIFE WELL LIVED,
A PROMISE WITH DESTINY KEPT.'

Founded in 1826, ZSL has been protecting and restoring wildlife for 200 years and counting.
Helping people and wildlife thrive together, the international conservation charity now operates in
more than 70 countries across the world. Marking 200 years of ZSL, The Royal Mint commemorates
the charity’s legacy with a UK £2 coin featuring a reverse design by Jonathan Olliffe. The coin’s edge
inscription displays the words ‘RESTORING WILDLIFE TOGETHER.’

One of the most important vessels in the history of global exploration and discovery, HMS Beagle
undertook its first commission in 1826. The ship’s second voyage is legendary due to its resident naturalist
Charles Darwin, who collected the specimens and made the observations he needed to establish his theory
of evolution. Featuring a reverse design by William Webb that shows a detailed image of the vessel as
it appeared at the height of its activity, a UK £2 coin honours the 200th anniversary of Beagle’s first
commission. The coin’s edge inscription includes the words ‘THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE.’

Established in 1926 at Brooklands in Surrey, the United Kingdom’s first purpose-built motor racing venue,
the British Grand Prix first took place in Silverstone in 1948 and has been a fixture on the
World Championship calendar since 1950. Found in the heart of England, Silverstone has produced
some of the most exciting moments in the history of the British Grand Prix, including the iconic victories
of legends such as Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell, Jackie Stewart, and Lewis Hamilton. In 2026, this 50p
coin is the first UK coin to commemorate the incredible legacy of the British Grand Prix and features
a reverse design by Interstate Creative Partners.

Since 1976, The King’s Trust has helped young people to develop the confidence and skills to build a better
future for themselves. Over the last 50 years, The King’s Trust has supported more than 1 million young
people across the UK, helping those who are unemployed or struggling at school to get ready for work,
secure a job, or start a business. In 2024, the charity changed its name from The Prince’s Trust to
The King’s Trust to reflect the monarch’s continued dedication to its work. Celebrating 50 years of
The King’s Trust, this UK 50p coin honours the legacy of this remarkable charity and features a reverse
design by Jessica Gregorio, a beneficiary of The King’s Trust.

The obverse of each commemorative and definitive coin in the 2026 Annual Sets features the
official coinage portrait of His Majesty King Charles III. Designed by British sculptor Martin Jennings,
this left-facing portrait of the monarch was introduced to UK coins in 2022.

The 2026 commemorative sets will be available in a range of precious metal and base proof finishes, from 2 January via The Royal Mint website, with prices starting from £39.50. Each of the coins will be available individually throughout 2026, except for The King’s Trust 50p, which is only available exclusively as part of the Annual Set.

From 2nd January, visitors to the Royal Mint Experience will have an opportunity to strike their own 2026-dated £1 coin, marking an exciting start to the visitor attraction's 10th birthday celebrations. In a special nod to this milestone anniversary, the £1 coin has been chosen as the strike your own coin, as the round pound was the first coin visitors could strike when the attraction opened in 2016. The £1 coin features the British Bees on the reverse (tails) side.