2006 Queen's 80th Birthday £5 Silver Proof Piedfort

The British Royal Mint has just announced the minting of the 2006 Queen's 80th Birthday £5 Silver Proof Piedfort.

What is a Piedfort coin?

Originating in the royal courts of twelfth-century France, Piedforts were thicker than normal coins and were given as prized gifts by the King to a small number of favoured dignitaries. Today, Piedforts continue this tradition by being struck using blanks that are double the weight of their circulating counterparts – and therefore contain twice the amount of pure silver.

In addition, the original reverse design by artist Danuta Solowiej-Wedderburn has been selectively plated with 23 carat gold conveying a sense of celebration through a fanfare of trumpets while the regal portrait of Her Majesty The Queen by Ian Rank-Broadley, FRBS appears on the obverse.

Struck in .925 sterling silver to the Royal Mint’s world-renowned premier Proof standard. Every minute detail of the obverse and reverse designs are brought to life with the delicately frosted relief standing proud against the mirror-like background.

Each of these coins is housed within a protective capsule, presented in a beautiful case and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity signed by the Deputy Master of the Royal Mint.

Each coin is struck in .925 sterling silver and then selectively plated in 23 carat gold. The weight of each coin is 56.56 grams and the diameter is 38.61mm The face value is £5
And the cost is £79.95

The 2006 Queen's 80th Birthday £5 Silver Proof Piedfort coin will make an ideal addition for any coin collector as well as a collector of Royal memorabilia.