In 2018 to celebrate the Queens Sapphire Coronation, the Royal Mint released a very Limited Issue Sapphire Coronation Piedfort £5 Five Pound Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver.
The reverse designed by Stephen Taylor features the Royal Standard while the obverse designed by Jody Clark depicts the Fifth Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
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.