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 Royal Mint issued a special sterling silver Piedfort 50p to wish Team GB success for the Rio 2016 Games. The coin is presented in a polished black display case with a booklet on the origins of the Olympics and Team GB.

Team GB is the brand name used since 1999 by the British Olympic Association (BOA) for their Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic team. The brand was developed after the 1996 Summer Olympics and is now a trademark of the BOA. It is meant to unify the team as one body, irrespective of each member athlete's particular sport.