2017 Pistrucci Piedfort Sovereign Gold Proof Coin Box Coa

In 2017 for the first time ever, to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Pistrucci's Reverse Design from 1817, the Royal Mint released a very Limited Issue St George and the Dragon Piedfort Gold Proof Sovereign Coin struck in solid 22 Carat Gold.

The Piedfort Gold Proof Sovereign Coin is housed in a handsome walnut-veneer presentation case and is accompanied by an individually numbered Certificate of Authenticity signed by the Chief Executive of the Royal Mint .
Each of the 22 Carat Gold Proof Sovereigns are double the weight of its counterpart and features on the reverse the legendary St George and the Dragon reverse from 1817 designed by Benedetto Pistrucci , together with the Fifth Portrait of Her Majesty, The Queen by Jody Clark on the obverse.
These legal tender coins have been struck to proof quality using specially prepared dies and highly polished blanks.

Piedforts are coins which have been especially 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 practice of striking Piedforts is later and less frequent, but medieval and Tudor examples are known.