In 2009 to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Birth of Robert Burns, the Royal Mint released a very Limited Issue Robert Burns Piedfort £2 Two Pound Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver.
His most famous work is perhaps Auld Lang Syne, a song celebrating friendship and sung every year on New Year's Eve in the English speaking world. Words taken from Auld Lang Syne, as written down by Burns 'from an old man's singing', now provides a splendid reverse design for the new £2 Two Pound coin. 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 3,500 Worldwide
Piedfort Double the Thickness and Weight of it's Standard Counterpart
Finished to Royal Mint's Proof Quality in Solid .925 Sterling Silver
