Description
To commemorate the introduction into circulation of a new, smaller ten pence coin in 1992, the Royal Mint is issuing a limited number of silver Proof Piedfort ten pence coins. This, the most recent change to the United Kingdom coinage, effectively removes from circulation the last traces of the old £sd coins. Ironically, it was the predecessor of the ten pence, the florin, first struck in 1849, that was intended to be a tentative step towards decimal coinage and bore the words ONE TENTH OF A POUND to indicate the reason for its appearance. The new ten pence, with its more pronounced milling on the edge, has retained Christopher Ironside's reverse design featuring a lion passant guardant royally crowned. The obverse bears Rapheal Maklouf's elegant portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Piedfort coins are struck using blanks which are thicker than normal. As their name suggests, they have close associations with France where, from the twelfth century, they were apparently used by the Kings as presentation pieces. SPECIFICATIONS: Weighing 13.00 grammes and measuring 24.50 millimetres in diameter, this ten pence coin is legal tender and has been struck in sterling (.925) silver to the finest Proof quality. Only 15,00 of these coins have been issued for worldwide distribution. GRADE: Silver Proof, with box and Certificate FDC. 63324
