Piedfort

thumb|250px|Piedfort on the right A piedfort (, ; or piéfort ) 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. Piedfort is less commonly spelled "piefort".

== History == thumb|Piedfort of gold écu, Louis XIII, France, 1643 Piedfort coins were first recorded in France and Great Britain during the Middle Ages, with the first French piedforts appearing in the 12th century. The reason the coins were minted in piedfort form was probably to prevent them from being lost among normal circulating coins. Theories for the original purpose of the earliest piedfort coins are: As patterns for administrative approval. As patterns to show engravers in different mints what an approved design should look like. As reckoning counters or jetons for mint officials, akin to a simple milestone or the beads on a more complex abacus.