In 2005, to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, the Royal Mint released a very Limited Issue Battle of Trafalgar Piedfort £5 Five Pound Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver.
In the center of the reverse design are Royal Navy ships, Victory and Temeraine, as viewed from the French Fleet and the dates "1805" and "2005", designed by Clive Duncan.
The obverse design is a stunning 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 practise of striking piedforts is later and less frequent, but medieval and Tudor examples are known.