In 2020, to celebrate Britain's Longest Reigning King George III, the Royal Mint released a Limited Issue George III Piedfort £5 Five Pound Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver.
The reverse designed by Dominique Evans features a portrait of King George III while the obverse depicts the Fifth Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II both 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 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 practise of striking piedforts is later and less frequent, but medieval and Tudor examples are known.
A Limited Edition Presentation of 550, almost 1,000 lower than the 2019 Queen Victoria £5 coin
The first time George III has been celebrated on modern UK coinage
The edge lettering – ‘I GLORY IN THE NAME OF BRITON’ – has been taken from a speech by George III
An elegant Piedfort edition, struck in 925 sterling silver
The packaging content and story has been produced with support from the Georgian Papers Programme
