The White Tower — the central keep of the Tower of London — was begun by William the Conqueror around 1078 and served for centuries as a royal mint, among its many other functions. The Tower Mint operated there from the late 13th century until 1810, making it a fitting subject for a Royal Mint commemorative. Piedfort coins, struck at twice the standard planchet thickness, revive a French minting tradition that dates to at least the 16th century and were adopted by the Royal Mint for modern collector issues in 1982.
The White Tower — the central keep of the Tower of London — was begun by William the Conqueror around 1078 and served for centuries as a royal mint, among its many other functions. The Tower Mint operated there from the late 13th century until 1810, making it a fitting subject for a Royal Mint commemorative. Piedfort coins, struck at twice the standard planchet thickness, revive a French minting tradition that dates to at least the 16th century and were adopted by the Royal Mint for modern collector issues in 1982.