In 2017, to celebrate the Centenary of the House of Windsor, the Royal Mint released a Limited Issue House of Windsor Piedfort £5 Five Pound Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver.
The reverse designed by Timothy Noad depicts a design based on the Badge of the House of Windsor approved by George VI, while t
he obverse design features the Fifth Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II designed 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.