2019 Silver Tower of London Ceremony of the Keys Proof and Piedfort Proof Coins
The Tower of London is one of the world’s most famous landmarks. It has a rich and bloody history during which it has housed conquerors, monarchs, invaders, and rebels. Besides serving as palace and prison, it has also been home to the Royal Armories, the Royal Mint, and even a zoo. One night in December of 1340, Edward III arrived to discover that the gates were unguarded. He decreed that the tower gates were to be locked from sunset to sunrises.
Since then, the gates have been locked nightly in a ceremony. Two of the central items used in the ceremony, a lantern and keys, feature on these two coins, one proof and one piedfort proof. Both were struck from .925 sterling silver and bear a Tower mint mark, which was first used for this series. The proof was struck on a 28.28 g planchet, while the piedfort proof was struck on a 56.56 g planchet. The former has a mintage of 4,000 pieces and the latter just 1,160.