In 2008 the Royal Mint released a Limited Issue Royal Shield of Arms Piedfort 50p Fifty Pence Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver.
Each Coin in the new series of designs from the 50p to the 1p feature a portion of the Royal Arms. United, therefore, and carefully arranged in the correct order, the 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, 1p, make up the Royal Arms in its entirety. The Royal Arms of the present reign has remained virtually unchanged since the reign of Queen Victoria the shield is quartered with England three lions passant guardant, in the first and fourth quarters, the Scottish lion rampant in the second and the harp of Ireland in the third.
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 3,000 Worldwide
Piedfort Double the Thickness and Weight of its Standard Counterpart
