British Royal Mint £1 Silver Proof Piedfort 2004

Description

British Royal Mint £1 Silver Proof Piedfort 2004
Since the pound coin was introduced in 1983, it has had its reverse designs changed annually in five- year cycles.
In addition to this, the obverse (head side) portrait has changed in 1985 and 1998, so that in its 18 years of issue, it has hardly ever repeated the same obverse and reverse designs in any years.
Piedforts are coins which have been specially stuck on thicker than normal blanks. As the name suggests they have a close association with France, where from the twelfth century they were apparently issued by Kings as presentation pieces. In Britain the practice of striking piedforts is later less frequent, but medieval and Tudor examples are known.
British £1 coins
The Coin:
Weight:            19 grams.   0.67 ounces
Diameter:         22.5mm
Alloy:               .925 Sterling Silver
The Forth Railway Bridge appears on the 2004 one pound coin representing Scotland. This 2004 silver proof piedfort £1 coin is the first in a four-coin collection based on famous bridges in the United Kingdom. Designed by Edwina Ellis, this coin celebrates the superb engineering that Britain is famous for throughout the world.
The reverse design by Edwina Ellis pays homage to Scotland. It features one of Scotland's most famous landmarks, the magnificent Forth Rail Bridge. This is the first in the Bridges series that were issued between 2004 to 2007.
Mintage 7,013