Branch manager Vasanthi Balachandar of Jubilee Oak Post Office and Jubilee Oak Express convenience store in Braintree has played a starring role in the national launch of King Charles III’s first 5p coin to enter circulation.
The Royal Mint announced today (23 October) that 23.2 million 5p coins featuring the King’s official portrait are now being released across the UK – the first time the denomination has carried the new monarch’s image.
Jubilee Oak Post Office was specially chosen for the national rollout because of its name, linking to the oak leaf design on the coin, which symbolises the King’s dedication to nature and conservation. The Royal Mint has allocated a special quantity of the new 5p pieces to several ‘Oak’-named branches across the country, allowing customers to find these historic coins in their everyday change.
The participating branches include The Oaks Post Office in Northern Ireland, Oaktree Road Post Office in Southampton, Four Oaks in Sutton Coldfield, County Oak in Brighton, and others across England, Wales and Scotland.
Balachandar is pictured for the national launch with the new coin at Jubilee Oak Post Office and Jubilee Oak Express convenience store at Cressing Road. In 1887 the Jubilee Oak was planted very close to this store to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. There had been a band and a crowd of several hundred people gathered to mark the occasion.
Originally there were no houses in this part of Braintree and anywhere near here was described as being “up by the Jubilee oak” or also affectionately known as “Jibley Oak”. The area then built up and the tree was at the junction of Cressing Road and Coggeshall Road and encircled by its original iron seat.
The original oak was felled in 1986 as it was no longer in a good condition and this allowed for road improvement works. A replacement oak was planted in 2012 for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. The latter was part of the Green Heart of Essex campaign, which provided communities with free oak trees to mark the Diamond Jubilee. It is on the green at Beckers Green Road and is thriving.
The coins, minted in October 2023, are entering circulation in response to growing demand for the 5p denomination. Since His Majesty’s portrait was first introduced on UK coins in 2022, collectors and members of the public have been keen to spot the new effigy in their change. With King Charles III coins representing just 0.2 per cent of the 24.6 billion coins currently in circulation, the new 5p is expected to be particularly sought after.
“We are delighted to see His Majesty’s first 5p coins entering circulation following public demand,” Rebecca Morgan, Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint, said. “The oak leaf design beautifully represents the deep connection between our monarchy and the natural world, reflecting King Charles III’s lifelong dedication to environmental conservation.”
Russell Hancock, Supply Chain Director at Post Office, added: “We are incredibly proud to support the entry and circulation of this first 5p coin to bear His Majesty King Charles III's official portrait. Many coin enthusiasts visit our branches, so we’re particularly pleased that those with ‘Oak’ in their name will receive a special quantity.”
The 5p coin forms part of the new UK coin series revealed in 2023, featuring designs inspired by British wildlife and a repeating pattern of three interlocking Cs – a tribute to Charles II’s cypher.