For 2022 to celebrate the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, the Royal Mint released a Limited Issue Commonwealth Games Piedfort 50p Fifty Pence Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver.
The reverse, designed by Natasha Preece features a Geometric design capturing the essence of Birmingham 2022 while the obverse features the Fifth Portrait of Her Majesty Queen 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 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.
Limited Mintage 1,250 Worldwide
Piedfort Double the Thickness and Weight of its Standard Counterpart
Struck to Royal Mint's Proof Quality in Solid .925 Sterling Silver
Celebrating the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022
