In 2008, for the first time the Royal Mint released a very special Limited Issue Royal Shield of Arms Piedfort £1 One Pound Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver celebrating the new Shield of the Royal Arms designed by Matthew Dent.
As a powerful symbol of royal authority the Royal Arms, in various forms, have featured on the coinage of almost every monarch since the reign of Edward III (1327-77). Coins were, and still are, issued under the personal authority of the monarch and came to be regarded as vehicles for royal imagery, whether in the form of a portrait or a monarch's personal Coat of Arms.
As heraldry itself started to grow as a symbol of royal identity it was a natural progression for the Royal Arms to appear on the coinage. It is not surprising then that Matthew Dent, the winning designer, chose the Royal Arms, and in particular the shield of the Royal Arms, as the theme for his innovative range of new designs, with all four quarters spread over the six coins from the 1p to the 50p.
Completing the new range of coins is the £1 coin featuring the shield of the Royal Arms in its entirety, uniting the six fragmented elements into one design. The obverse is the stunning portrait of Her Majesty 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..
Limited Mintage of 2,456 Worldwide
Piedfort Double the Thickness and Weight of its Standard Counterpart
