In 2016 to commemorate the 950th Anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, the Royal Mint released a special Limited Issue Battle of Hastings Piedfort 50p Fifty Pence Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver.
The reverse designed by John Bergdahl pays tribute to William the Conqueror and the Battle of Hastings of 1066 and is based on the Bayeux Tapestry and features a figure based on images though to be King Harold with the famous arrow to the eye while the obverse features the 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 practise of striking piedforts is later and less frequent, but medieval and Tudor examples are known.
Royal Mint Product Code - UK16BHPF
Limited Mintage of 1,469 Worldwide
Piedfort Double the Thickness and Weight of its Standard Counterpart
Minted in Solid .925 Sterling Silver
Commemorating the 950th Anniversary of the Battle of Hastings
