In 2016 to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Beatrix Potter, the Royal Mint released a special Limited Issue Beatrix Potter Piedfort 50p Fifty Pence Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver.
Beatrix Potter is world renowned for her 23 Little White Books for Children which include Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck, The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, The Tale of Mr Tod, her small tales for small hands have endured for more than a century.
The reverse design of the Beatrix Potter Coin features Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit with the dates 1866 - 1943 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.