In 2016 to celebrate the Olympic Games held in Rio and Team GB's participation, the Royal Mint released a special Limited Issue Team GB Rio Piedfort 50p Fifty Pence Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver.
The reverse designed Tim Sharp features a swimmer, a design that celebrates the Olympic spirit and the athletes that compete while the obverse design depicts the Fifth Portrait of 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.
Limited Mintage of 1,296 Worldwide
Piedfort Double the Thickness and Weight of its Standard Counterpart
Minted in Solid .925 Sterling Silver
Celebrating the Olympic Games in Rio and Team GB's Participation
