Post:
Hi everyone,
I recently found this 2025 King Charles III "Bee" £1 coin in my change and noticed it looks starkly different from my other copies.
I have attached side-by-side photos comparing it to a standard 2023 £1 coin. As you can see, the outer nickel-brass ring on my 2025 coin has a very distinct, vibrant copper/rose-gold tone instead of the usual pale gold finish.
This copper coloring is completely uniform across the entire outer ring on both the obverse and reverse sides. It doesn't look like patchy environmental damage or staining, as it has a clean luster and extends evenly through the texturing.
Has anyone else come across this specific color variation in the 2025 batch yet? Could this be a blank/alloy composition shift or a sintering/plating anomaly from the Royal Mint? Any insights into what caused this or if it carries a collector premium would be greatly appreciated!
IMG_20260424_191007.heicIMG_20260424_191007.heicIMG_20260424_191007.heicIMG_20260424_191007.heicIMG_20260424_191007.heic
IMG_20260424_190948.heic