In 2010, to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Death of Florence Nightingale and the publication of her Notes on Nursing,the Royal Mint released a Limited Issue Florence Nightingale Piedrfort £2 Two Pound Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver.
The reverse design has been created by Gordon Summers and, through the depiction of a pulsebeing taken, seeks to commemorate the great nursing profession in general, while the inscription draws attention to the achievements of Florence Nightingale in particular with the background symbolising the rays of light from her lamp. The obverse features a portrait of Her Majesty The Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS.
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.
A Limited Edition Presentation of 2,770 Worldwide
Struck to Royal Mint's Proof Quality in Solid .925 Sterling Silver
Piedfort Double the Thickness and Weight of its Standard Counterpart
Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Death of Florence Nightingale
