In 1992 to celebrate the introduction of the new, smaller ten pence coin in 1992, the Royal Mint released a Limited Issue Piedfort 10p Ten Pence Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver.
The reverse design is the royally crowned Passant Lion and the obverse is the stunning portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Raphael Maklouf.
These legal tender coins have been struck to proof quality using specially prepared dies and highly polished blanks.
Piedforts are coins which have been specially struck on thicker than normal blanks. As their name suggests they are closely associated with France, where from the twelfth century they were apparently issued by the Kings as presentation pieces. In Britain the practise of striking piedforts is later and less frequent, but medieval and Tudor examples are known.