In 1997 the Royal Mint released a Limited Issue Piedfort Britannia 50p Fifty Pence Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver.
The reverse design is a seated figure of Britannia by Christopher Ironside and the obverse design is a portrait of 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.
Limited Mintage of 7,192 Worldwide
Piedfort Double the Thickness and Weight of its Standard Counterpart
