2009 Kew Gardens Piedfort 50p Silver Proof Coin PCGS PR69 DCAM

In 2009 to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of Kew Gardens, the Royal Mint released a very special Limited Issue K ew Gardens Piedfort 50p Fifty Pence Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver Certified Slabbed and Graded by PCGS as PR69 DCAM .

The reverse, designed by Christopher Le Burns has chosen to feature Kew famous Chinese Pagoda .
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 practise of striking piedforts is later and less frequent, but medieval and Tudor examples are known.