In 2002 to celebrate the Manchester Commonwealth Games, the Royal Mint released a special Limited Issue Commonwealth Games Piedfort £2 Two Pound Silver Proof 4 Coin Set struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver.
The reverse is the work of artist and sculptor Matthew Bonaccorsi, a skilled member of the Royal Mint engraving team, whose design was the winning entry in a competition. Representing celebration, victory and sportsmanship it shows a moving figure holding aloft a banner, the top of which is divided into lines, symbolising the lanes of a running track or swimming pool.
There are four versions of the coin, one for each of the participating teams from the United Kingdom. They are featured in turn, by their colour flags appearing in cameo. The obverse design is Ian Rank Broadley's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
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 3,497 Worldwide
Piedfort Double the Thickness and Weigh of its Standard Counterpart
Finished to Royal Mint's Proof Quality in Solid .925 Sterling Silver
