Description

A piedfort is an unusually thick coin, often exactly twice the normal weight and thickness of other coins of the same diameter and pattern. Piedforts are not normally circulated, and are only struck for presentation purposes by mint officials (such as patterns), or for collectors, dignitaries, and other VIPs.

The Normandy landings, part of Operation Overlord during World War II, took place on Tuesday, 6 June 1944. Codenamed Operation Neptune and commonly known as D-Day, this was the largest seaborne invasion in history. The operation initiated the liberation of German-occupied France (and subsequently Europe) from Nazi control, setting the stage for the Allied victory on the Western Front.

Supported by over 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft, the D-Day invasion secured a foothold in Normandy by the end of June 6. The cost was high, with over 9,000 Allied soldiers killed or wounded, but the successful landing allowed more than 100,000 soldiers to begin their march across Europe to defeat Hitler.