In 2004, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Roger Bannister's Four Minute Mile, the Royal Mint released a very Limited Issue Piedfort 50p Fifty Pence Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver.
The reverse was designed by James Butler and the obverse was 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 practise of striking piedforts is later and less frequent, but medieval and Tudor examples are known.
Limited Mintage 4,054 Worldwide
Piedfort Double the Thickness and Weight of its Standard Counterpart
Struck to Royal Mint's Proof Quality in Solid .925 Sterling Silver
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Roger Bannister's Four Minute Mile
