In 1998 the Royal Mint released a very special Limited Issue Royal Arms Piedfort £1 One Pound Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver Certified Slabbed and Graded by PCGS as PR69 DCAM.
The reverse is the Royal Arms design by Eric Sewell and the obverse is a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, designed by Ian Rank Broadley.
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 practice of striking piedforts is later and less frequent, but medieval and Tudor examples are known.