In 2009, to celebrate the 500th Anniversary of King Henry VIII, the Royal Mint released a very Limited Issue Henry VIII Piedfort £5 Five Pound Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver.
The reverse designed by John Bergdahl who was inspired by the majestic standing portrait of Henry by Hans Hollis. In the portrait, which is taken from a contemporary work by Holgein, Henry is shown standing before a frieze of roses in the 'antique' style much favoured in the carvings and tapestries of the period. He is presented within a petal shaped device used frequently to frame portraits on medieval coins. The cipher HR (Henry Rex) is taken from an elaborately engraved gun barrel of the time and all is enclosed within a rope border representing the Royal Navy cipher. The obverse design in 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 especially 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 3,580 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 500th Anniversary of King Henry VIII
