In 2015, the Royal Mint is releasing a brand new Limited Issue Britannia Definitive Piedfort £2 Two Pound Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver and for the first time features a Corinthian Style Helmeted Britannia Certified Slabbed and Graded by PCGS as PR69 DCAM .
The new design which is replacing the elaborate design by Bruce Rushin "History of Technological Achievements" from 1997 depicts a Corinthian Style Helmeted Britannia designed Antony Dufort while the obverse bears the brand new Fifth Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Jody Clark.
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.