Elizabeth II, 20 Pence 1982 Piedfort

In 1982 the Royal Mint issued a 20 Pence coin for the first time. They used the Machin bust of the Queen for just three years and then they turned to the so-called Maklouf bust. In 1982 they issued special collectors editions of the new 20 Pence coin in Sterling Silver. Not only were they Sterling Silver but they were piedforts or double the normal thickness. They only issued 10,000 pieces so the 1982 Silver Piedfort 20p with the Machin bust is a very important type coin, a one year only type coin and one that should be in every collection. Unfortunately with a mintage of just 10,000 coins there are far more collectors than coins available.