In 1999, to celebrate the 4th Rugby World Cup Tournament, the Royal Mint released a Limited Issue Piedfort £2 Two Pound Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver and Certified Slabbed and Graded by PCGS as PR69 DCAM.
In 1999, the world's best rugby playing nations battled for the Webb Ellis Cup in what was the fourth Rugby World Cup Tournament. The finals were hosted by the Welsh Rugby Union and held at venues throughout the Five Nations of England, France, Ireland, Scotland and Wales the matches promising six weeks of fierce competition in October and November 1999.
In celebration, the Royal Mint is proud to issue a commemorative £2 Two Pound Coin for collectors.
For its special reverse design, medallist Ron Dutton has, in his representation of a packed Rugby stadium viewed from above, attempted to capture the pulsating atmosphere, movement, sound and colour of a great game and its enthusiastic supporters.
The obverse bears a regal portrait of Queen Elizabeth II 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.