In 2009 to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th Anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species, the Royal Mint released a very Limited Issue Charles Darwin Piedfort £2 Two Pound Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver.
The reverse designed by Susie Zamit features a profile portrait of Charles Darwin and a chimpanzee together with the denomination Two Pounds, the year dates 1809 and 2009 and Darwin. The obverse design is the stunning portrait of 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 3,282 Worldwide
Piedfort Double the Thickness and Weight of its Standard Counterpart
Finished to Royal Mint's Proof Quality in Solid .925 Sterling Silver
Celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Charles Darwin
