1992-1993 Dual Dated European Presidency Single Market Fifty Pence Piedfort Silver Proof Coin

During the second half of 1992, the post of Presidency of the Council of European Community Ministers was held by the United Kingdom. This post involved the minister from the country holding the presidency chairs the session, and having a certain degree of power to decide itineraries and media output. This presidency is rotated between the member states of the EU every six months. At the start of 1993, the Single European Market came into effect which allowed the freedom of movement for goods and people across member states. In honour of these two milestones, as well as twenty years since the UK’s entrance into the EEC, The Royal Mint released a commemorative piedfort silver proof Fifty Pence. This coin’s reverse was designed by Mary Milner Dickens, and features a conference table and twelve chairs for each of the Ministers. The chair at the head of the table is marked ‘UK’ in honour of the presidency. The European Community symbol of twelve stars are also depicted across the table, along with the dates 1992 and 1993. On the obverse is Raphael Maklouf’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the third such effigy to be used on circulating coinage. Struck in .925 sterling silver and weighing 16.00 grams, this double thickness coin is one of 10,993 issued in this presentation. It comes in its original case with its certificate of authenticity.