However, some coins have already appeared on auction site Ebay at vastly inflated prices.

The new collection, which includes a 50p and a £5 coin, went on sale on the Royal Mint website at 9am this morning (24 April).

Prices for the coins vary. The least expensive costs £11 for what’s known as a “brilliantly uncirculated” and unlimited 50p coin, rising to £1,220 for a gold proof 50p coin, of which there is a limit of 500.

The most expensive is a 1kg gold proof coin for £77,565 and there are 15 of these available.

But people aiming to buy the coins online this morning were placed in a queue of thousands of people.

One customer who logged on to the Royal Mint just minutes after the sale of the coins went live was told they were in a queue with 11,811 people ahead of them. Just minutes later, a Twitter user claimed they had 67,000 people in front of them.

A message on the site said: “Thank you for visiting the Royal Mint’s website. Due to a high level of interest in the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III UK Coin Collection, you have been placed in a queue.

“The Coronation of King Charles III marks the beginning of a new chapter for the British monarchy and the United Kingdom. To celebrate this historic coronation, we are excited to release the official coin collection featuring the first crowned coinage portrait of King Charles III.”

However, Royal fans don’t have to worry about missing out on some of the coins as the “brilliant uncirculated” coins are unlimited and so will be available when the website is less busy.

Some people that did get to the front of the queue for coins reported problems with viewing the coins or paying for them.

One Twitter user Tweeted: “Was 22,000 in queue and got on website at 09:20. Could not click on any links and now I can’t get onto your website at all now. Kicked me out! What is going on? This is really poor.”

Another Tweeted: “I put a couple of items in my basket, during the ordering/payment process, both vanished. This happened a couple of times, then these items were no longer available. What a stupid website!”

Making a mint on Ebay

Some coronation coins have already found their way on to auction site Ebay. For example, the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III 2023 UK 50p Gold Proof Coin costs £1,220 on the Royal Mint website but a hopeful Ebay seller has one up for sale at a “buy it now” price of £2,500.

Another seller was advertising a Coronation of King Charles III 2023 £5 Silver Proof Piedfort coin, which costs £180 from Royal Mail, for £249.99.

The coins celebrate the coronation next month of King Charles III which will take place on 6 May.

The coins, often in silver or gold, feature the first official portrait of the king wearing the Tudor Crown, using an image designed by Martin Jennings.

The coins are the first crowned representation of King Charles to be featured on a coin. A design without a crown was unveiled last year, following his accession to the throne.