In 2004, to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Entente Cordiale, the Royal Mint released a very Limited Issue Entente Cordiale Piedfort £5 Five Pound Silver Proof Coin struck in solid .925 Sterling Silver.
In the centre of the reverse is the head and shoulders of Britannia and her French counterpart, Marianne, with the inscription "Entente Cordiale" separated by the dates "1904" and "2004", designed by David Gentleman. The obverse is a regal portrait of Queen Elizabeth II designed by Ian Rank Broadley.
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 practice of striking piedforts is later and less frequent, but medieval and Tudor examples are known.
Limited Mintage 2,500 Coins Worldwide
Piedfort Double the Thickness and Weight of its Standard Counterpart
Finished to the Royal Mint's Proof Quality in Solid .925 Sterling Silver
