In 2015 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Death of Sir Winston Churchill, the Royal Mint released a very Limited Issue Winston Churchill Piedfort £5 Five Pound Silver Proof Coin struck in solid fine .925 Sterling Silver Certified Slabbed and Graded by PCGS as PR69 DCAM.
The reverse designed by Etienne Millner depicts a portrait of Sir Winston Churchill while the obverse features the Portrait of Her Majesty 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.