2 Euro commemorative coins Malta

Malta

2 Euro

C o m m e m o r a t i v e C o i n s

Malta
The edge lettering on the Maltese 2‐Euro‐commemorative coins is : Different embossings are noted in the individual description.
Image	Country		Date	Feature	Ref.	Volume
🔎		Malta	05 Jan. 2009	10th anniversary of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)	20001 20002 20005	700,000	•
	Description : In 1972 the European Exchange Rate Mechanism was created to limit fluctuations between currencies. In 1975 a basket of currencies was used to define the European Currency Unit (ECU) and in 1979 the European Monetary System was created. 1990 saw the start of the first stage of European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and in 1994 the second stage, during which the European Monetary Institute prepared for the establishment of the European Central Bank (ECB). In 1996 the European Commission established the currency abbreviation €. In 1999, saw the third stage of EMU, all participating currencies were linked to the euro by exchange rate parity. In 2008 a design competition was held for the EMU Community Edition coin and out of 5 proposals a winner, Georgios Stamatopoulos was determined by an online vote. The design shows a stylised human stick figure on the blank space of an irregularly shaped ancient coin, with the € symbol on the left arm. It symbolises the transition from the bartering of archaic times to European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Below the € symbol are the designer's initials "ΓΣ" and the years "1999‐2009". National characteristics : Above is the name of the issuing country "MALTA", the acronym of the occasion of issue below is "UEM". The coin was minted without a mint mark at the Royal Dutch Mint Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt in Utrecht. In contrast to the normal edge lettering of Maltese coins, () is minted here.

🔎		Malta	17 Oct. 2011	First election of representatives in 1849 1st coin of the Constitutional History series	20001 20002 20005	405,000	•
	Description : The first issue of the five‐part series of coins on constitutional history shows a hand throwing a ballot paper into a ballot box. In the First Peace of Paris in 1814, Malta was granted to the United Kingdom and thus became a British colony. The motif, designed by Ġanni Bonnici, depicts the 1849 election in which the first Maltese members of the Government Council were voted. This body advised the British Governor of Malta. The inscription "MALTA - First elected representatives 1849" (first elected representatives 1849) is depicted in a semicircle at the top right, and the year of issue "2011" at the bottom. The coin was struck without a mint mark by the Royal Dutch mint Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt in Utrecht.

🔎		Malta	30 Mar. 2012	10th anniversary of the Euro‐Currency	20001 20002 20005	500,000	•
	Description : To mark the tenth anniversary of the final adoption of the euro as cash, all 17 EU countries using the euro as their official currency issued a commemorative € 2 coin. There were five designs submitted, which could be voted for online. The result was announed on the 30th of June 2011: the winning design was created by Helmut Andexlinger and shows a globe in the middle, overlaid with the euro symbol. The importance of the euro in Europe and the world as a whole coupled with the fact that it has become a global player in the international monetary system over the last ten years, is illustrated by the euro symbol. According to the designer, the symbolic elements around the stylised globe represent the suggestion that the euro offers more opportunities for businesses and markets which in turn ensures economic stability by encouraging investment in this environment. The factory shape symbolises production, the cargo ship trade, all of which benefit the symbolic family of four with three homes by providing more quality jobs and stable consumer prices. The symbol of the Eurotower in Frankfurt/M. represents financial strength and the two wind turbines shows stimulation in innovative investments that this environment presents, whose central element is the euro. At the bottom of the coin are the years "2002 and "2012". National characteristics : At the top of the coin is the name of the issuing country "MALTA". The coin was minted without a mint mark by the Royal Dutch mint Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt in Utrecht.

🔎		Malta	20 Aug. 2012	1887 Majority Representation 2nd coin of the Constitutional History series	20001 20002 20005	405,000	•
	Description : The second issue of the five‐part coin series commemorates the introduction of majority voting and the formation of Malta's first representative government in 1887. The coin, designed by the Maltese artist Ġanni Bonnici, depicts cheering people in front of the Governor's Palace in Valletta, completed in 1575. At the top is a semicircle depicting "MALTA ‐ Majority representation 1887", (Malta ‐ Majority representation 1887), below the year of issue "2012". The coin was minted without a mint mark by the Royal Dutch Mint Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt in Utrecht; specimens in commemorative coin sets bear their mint mark, a Hermes staff, between the 5 and 6 o'clock star.

🔎		Malta	24 Jun. 2013	Establishment of Self‐Government in 1921 3rd coin of the Constitutional History series	20001 20002 20005	542,500	•
	Description : Women, men and children behind the outlines of the Maltese archipelago (below Malta, left Gozo, in between Comino) symbolise Malta's self‐government, introduced in 1921. The coin design was created by Ġanni Bonnici. Above right is a semicircle of "MALTA — Self ‐ government 1921". (Malta ‐ Local Government 1921), below the year of issue "2013" is shown. The coin was minted without a mint mark by the Royal Dutch Mint Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt in Utrecht; specimens contained in commemorative coin sets bear their mint mark, a Hermes staff, between the 5 and 6 o'clock star.

🔎		Malta	03 Jun. 2014	Independence from Great Britain in 1964 4th coin of the Constitutional History series	20001 20002 20005	432,500	•
	Description : The commemorative coin commemorating the 50th anniversary of independence from Britain features the upper part of a bronze statue from the Malta Indipendenti Monument in Floriana: a woman carrying the flag of Malta, which contains the St George's Cross ‐ symbol of St George the Saint and martyr and of the Crusades ‐ awarded in 1942 to the entire population of Malta for their bravery during the Italian and German air raids in the Second World War. The left half of the flag is represented by perspective hatching with the tincture red, following the heraldic rules of tingling. The 8.5 m towering sculpture was created in 1989 by Ġanni Bonnici (1932‐2019), who is also the designer of the coin series on Malta's constitutional history. In a semicircle on the upper right hand side, the issuing country and occasion "MALTA ‐ Independence 1964" can be read, below is the year of issue "2014". The coin was minted without a mint mark by the Royal Dutch Mint Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt in Utrecht; specimens contained in commemorative coin sets bear their mint mark, a Hermes staff, between the 5 and 6 o'clock star.

🔎		Malta	16 Jul. 2014	200th anniversary of the Malta Police Force	20001 20002 20005	300,000	•
	Description : The commemorative coin, designed by Noel Galea Bason and minted without a mint mark at the Royal Dutch Mint Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt in Utrecht, shows the badge of the Maltese police, consisting of the Maltese cross behind a white‐red divided shield (the colour red is represented by hatching according to the heraldic rules of tingierung) analogous to the shield in the coat of arms of Malta (but without the George cross contained therein), a circularly represented belt with buckle and the inscription "PULICIA TA' MALTA" (Malta Police), a lily and the motto "DOMINE DERIGE NOS" (lat. "God guide us"). The Police Force of Malta is the police force of the Republic of Malta with a current staff of about 1900 people and is responsible for public order and security on the main island and the islands of Gozo and Comino. It was founded ‐ as one of the first police forces in Europe ‐ on the 12th of July 1814 by Sir Thomas Maitland, the first Governor of Malta called "King Tom" from 1813‐1824. The occasion of issue "200 YEARS ‐ MALTA POLICE FORCE" (200 years of Maltese police) and the dates "1814 ‐ 2014" are marked in a circle.

🔎		Malta	25 May 2015	100th anniversary of the first flight from Malta	20001 20002 20005	325,000	•
	Description : After the prototype of the two‐seater Short Admiralty type 135 seaplane with serial number 136 had taken part in the British attack on Cuxhaven on the 25th of December 1914, it was transported to Malta by the aircraft mother ship HMS Ark Royal. There the seaplane, piloted by Cecil Francis Kilner, took off from Grand Harbour in Vittoriosa on the 13th of February 1915 and landed back in port after a flight of 55 minutes ‐ the flight marked the beginning of Maltese aviation. The aircraft was then used at the Dardanelles to accompany ship convoys and to fight enemy submarines, armed with two 50 kg torpedoes. However, the commemorative coin designed by Noel Galea Bason was inspired by a photograph of a similar aircraft with serial number 320, depicted flying over the Fort St. Angelo fortress in Senglea. At the top is the semi‐circular inscription "FIRST FLIGHT FROM MALTA" and on the right the dates "1915‐2015". At the bottom left is the inscription "100TH ANNIVERSARY", below which are the initials "NGB" of the coin designer. The coin was struck without a mint mark by the Royal Dutch mint Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt in Utrecht; specimens in coincards bear their mint mark, a Hermes staff, between the 5 and 6 o'clock star.

🔎		Malta	23 Jun. 2015	Proclamation of the Republic of Malta in 1974 5th coin of the Constitutional History series	20001 20002 20005	435,000	•
	Description : Malta was declared a republic following constitutional amendments supported by a large majority of the Maltese Parliament. The coin depicts a marble plaque placed on the facade of the Presidential Palace in Valletta. It depicts the coat of arms of Malta in force from 1975 to 1988 and a water taxi called "Dgħajsa" or "Dgħajsa tal‐Pass", the type of boat on which ‐ like the Maltese fishing boats called Luzzu ‐ is possibly of Phoenician origin. Next to two agricultural tools, a shovel and a "worgfork" with which the threshed grain is thrown into the air to separate it from the chaff, a prickly pear cactus is depicted. The commemorative text reads: "13 TA' DIĊEMBRU 1974 MALTA KBURIJA LI L‐PARLAMENT TAGHHA B' MAĠĠORANZA KBIRA IDDIKJARAHA REPUBBLIKA L‐AQWA ĠIEH LI KISBET GHALL‐EWWEL DARRA FIL‐ĠRAJJA T AGHHA" (13th of December 1974 ‐ Malta is proud that its Parliament has declared it a Republic by a large majority, the best achieved for the first time). The design of the coin is by Ġanni Bonnici. Above is "MALTA ‐ Republic 1974", below is "2015". The coin was minted without a mint mark by the Royal Dutch Mint Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt in Utrecht; specimens included in coin sets bear their mint mark, a Hermes staff, between the 5 and 6 o'clock star.

🔎		Malta	18 Dec. 2015	30th anniversary of the EU‐Flag	20001 20002 20005	300,000	•
	Description : From 1950, the Council of Europe had been working on the design of a flag for Europe. The proposal to adopt the emblem of the Paneuropa Union, founded by Richard Coudenhove‐Kalergi in 1922, was rejected because of its supposed Christian symbolism. In 1955 it was agreed that the European flag, also adopted by the European Community on 29th of June 1985, would be the European flag with the twelve (a number of twelve is considered a sign of perfection) golden stars in a circular (symbolising unity) arrangement on a blue background. To mark the 30th anniversary of the EU flag, all 19 EU countries which use the euro as their official currency issued a commemorative €2 coin. There were five designs to choose from which could be voted for online. The result was declared on 28th of May 2015. The coin design was created by Georgios Stamatopoulos, coin designer at the Bank of Greece, whose initials "ΓΣ" can be seen in the lower right‐hand corner. It shows twelve stylised persons in a circle around a European flag with the twelve euro stars. National characteristics : Above is the name of the issuing country "MALTA", followed by the dates "1985‐2015". On the right the sails of the three‐mast clipper Nederland the logo of the mint master Maarten Brouwer, and the staff of Hermes the mint mark of the Royal Dutch mint Koninklijke Nederlandske Munt in Utrecht.

🔎		Malta	22 Aug. 2016	Ġgantija Temples 1st coin of the Maltese Prehistoric Sites series	20001 20002 20005	410,000	•
	Description : The coin is dedicated to the temple complex of Ġgantija, located on the island of Gozo in the archipelago of Malta. Formed by megalithic temples from the Neolithic Age, it is one of the oldest free‐standing structures and one of the oldest religious buildings in the world. The temple complex was built around 3800 BC (the northern temple depicted as a coin motif is about 200 years younger) and is therefore older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. At the top is "ĠGANTIJA TEMPLES" and the year "3600‐3200 BC", right the signet "NGB" of the designer Noel Galea Bason. At the bottom left is the country of issue "MALTA" and below it the year of issue "2016". The coin was minted without a mint mark by the French mint Monnaie de Paris in Plessac; on Coincard specimens, the year is flanked on the left by a cornucopia as their mint mark, while on the right a pentagon represents the mint master's mark Yves Sampos. Coin sets in circulation coin sets bear an "F" (for France) in the 6 o'clock star.

🔎		Malta	05 Dec. 2016	Solidarity through Love 1st coin of the from children in solidarity series	20001 20002 20005	380,000	•
	Description : The coin is issued to commemorate the social significance of the "Malta Community Chest Fund", which has created the "For Children in Solidarity" programme for secondary school pupils. The programme focuses on the social role of children in five different areas, with the theme of "Solidarity through Love" in 2016. The coin motif was designed by Sarah Cilia. She depicts the theme by means of two hands forming a heart in which the flag of Malta can be seen. The right half is represented ‐ following the heraldic rules of tingierung ‐ by vertical hatching with the tincture red, and on the left the St George's Cross, symbol of St George and the Crusades, awarded in 1942 to the entire population of Malta for their bravery during the Italian and German air raids in World War II. The words "MALTA 2016" can be read below. Two stylised human figures are depicted on the left and right wrists. The coin was struck without a mint mark by the French mint Monnaie de Paris in Plessac; in Coincard specimens, the name of the state is flanked on the left by a cornucopia as their mint mark, while a pentagon on the right of the date represents the mint master's mark Yves Sampos.

🔎		Malta	31 May 2017	Tempel of Ħaġar Qim 2nd coin of the Maltese Prehistoric Sites series	20001 20002 20005	405,000	•
	Description : The coin is dedicated to the prehistoric temple complex of Ħaġar Qim, south of Qrendi, created between 3600 and 3200 BC. Only 500 m away is the cult place Mnajdra. Thousands of years ago, this was the only flat coastal strip on the southwest coast of Malta due to the low water level. The bays provided moorings for water vehicles and allowed the ascent to the temple terrace. Shown here is the south‐east facade of the South Temple with bank altars and the entrance to the Old Temple (right). In 1992 Ħaġar Qim, together with the other Bronze Age temples in Malta, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as the Megalithic Temples of Malta. In the upper right‐hand corner, the inscriptions "ĦAĠAR QIM", "TEMPLES" and the dates "3600‐3200 BC" can be seen one below the other. At the bottom left is the name of the issuing country "MALTA" and below it the year of issue "2017". At the bottom right are the initials of coin designer Noel Galea Bason "NGB". The coin was struck without a mint mark by the French mint Monnaie de Paris in Plessac; on Coincard specimens, the year is flanked on the left by a cornucopia as their mint mark, while on the right a pentagon represents the mint master's mark Yves Sampos. Coin sets in circulation coin sets bear an "F" (for France) in the 6 o'clock star.

🔎		Malta	13 Nov. 2017	Solidarity and Peace 2nd coin of the from children in solidarity series	20001 20002 20005	380,000	•
	Description : Designed by 12‐year‐old student Katya Muscat and engraved by Noel Galea Bason, the coin depicts ‐ under a hovering dove of peace ‐ two small children holding the flag of Malta between them, with the St George's Cross in the upper left‐hand corner, which was awarded to the entire population of Malta for their courage and bravery during the Italian and German air raids in World War II. The right half of the flag is ‐ following the heraldic rules of tingierung ‐ represented by vertical hatching with the tincture red. At the bottom it reads "Malta" as the issuing country, on the right "2017". The coin was minted by the French mint Monnaie de Paris in Plessac without a mint mark; in Coincard's specimens, the year is flanked on the left by a cornucopia as their mint mark, while a pentagon on the right represents the mint master's mark Yves Sampos.

🔎		Malta	21 Jun. 2018	Mnajdra Temples 3rd coin of the Maltese Prehistoric Sites series	20001 20002 20005	335,000	•
	Description : The coin is dedicated to the prehistoric temple complex of Mnajdra, south of Qrendi, created between 3600 and 2500 BC. Only 500 m away is the cult place Ħaġar Qim. Thousands of years ago this was the only flat coastal strip on the south‐west coast of Malta due to the low water level. The bays provided moorings for water vehicles and allowed the ascent to the temple terrace. The coin depicts the eastern facade of the southern temple of Mnajdras, which was built between 3000 and 2500 BC and is famous for its astronomical orientation. It was apparently built to mark the equinox and the summer solstice. In 1992, Mnajdra, together with other Bronze Age temples in Malta, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as the Megalithic Temples of Malta. Above is "MNAJDRA", "TEMPLES" and "3600‐2500 BC", below is the name of the issuing country "MALTA" and the year of issue "2018", and on the right is the "NGB" logo of coin designer Noel Galea Bason. The coin was made without a mint mark by the French mint Monnaie de Paris in Plessac. Specimens included in coin sets bear an "F" (for France) in the 6 o'clock star.

🔎		Malta	07 Nov. 2018	Cultural heritage 3rd coin of the from children in solidarity series	20001 20002 20005	320,000	•
	Description : The coin, designed by student Nicole Dimech, depicts a temple gate typical of the megalithic temples of Malta, with the sunlit stylised dome and bell tower of the Carmelite Church in Valletta. Underneath it is depicted ‐ on the waves of the Mediterranean Sea ‐ a luzzu, a typical Maltese fishing boat over which the flag of Malta with the St George's Cross is flying. The right half of the flag is ‐ following the heraldic rules of tingierung ‐ represented by vertical hatching with the tincture red. Above is "Malta", below the year of issue "2018". The coin was minted by the French mint Monnaie de Paris in Plessac without a mint mark; in Coincard specimens, the year is flanked on the left by a cornucopia as their mint mark, while on the right a pentagon represents the mint master's mark Yves Sampos.

🔎		Malta	13 May 2019	Ta' Ħagrat Temples 4th coin of the Maltese Prehistoric Sites series	20001 20002 20005	335,000	•
	Description : Themistocles Żammit (1864‐1935, Maltese physician, bacteriologist, professor of chemistry, writer, historian and archaeologist) began in 1923 with the excavation of this Neolithic megalithic site in Mġarr, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992 as part of the Megalithic Temples of Malta. Shown here is the entrance to the cloverleaf‐like southern temple Ta' Ħaġrats, built between 3600‐3200 BC, with three wide steps in front of the portal, which is covered by an imposing lintel. The northern temple was built around 3300‐3000 BC. At the top there are three lines "TA' ĦAĠRAT TEMPLES 3600‐3000 BC", below two lines "MALTA 2019". The coin was designed by Noel Galea Bason, whose initials "NGB" appear on the right. It was minted without a mint mark by the French mint Monnaie de Paris in Plessac; in Coincard's specimens, the year is flanked on the left by a cornucopia as their mint mark, while on the right a pentagon represents the mint master's mark Yves Sampos. Coin sets bear an "F" (for France) in the 6 o'clock star, as do some of the coins issued in rolls.

🔎		Malta	21 Oct. 2019	Nature and Envirement 4th coin of the from children in solidarity series	20001 20002 20005	320,000	•
	Description : In Joshua Stuart's coin design, which won a prize in a school competition, seven apples hanging from an apple tree and seeds growing in a field symbolise nature, while a cloud and a stylised sun symbolise the environment. On the left is the double line "Malta" "2019". The coin was minted without a mint mark by the French mint Monnaie de Paris in Plessac; in Coincard's specimens, the name of the state is flanked on the left by a cornucopia as their mint mark, while on the right a pentagon represents the mint master's mark Yves Sampos.

🔎		Malta	24 Jul. 2020	Skorba Temples 5th coin of the Maltese Prehistoric Sites series	20002 20007 20008	200,000	•
	Description : The coin, designed by Noel Galea Bason, shows the south‐eastern interior view of the Neolithic western temple of Skorba ‐ built around 3600‐3000 BC ‐ and the female terracotta sculpture created around 4400‐4100 BC, which resembles Cycladic idols and was found during the excavations there in a deeper settlement layer. The temple complex at Mġarr, together with the temples of Ta' Ħaġrat, only 1 km away, and four other places of worship, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992 as part of the megalithic temples of Malta. The inscription on the coin reads "SKORBA TEMPLES 3600‐2500 BC" and "Malta 2020". The signet "NGB" of the designer is on the right. The coin was minted without a mint mark by the French mint Monnaie de Paris in Plessac; on Coincard specimens, the year is flanked on the left by a cornucopia as their mint mark, while on the right a pentagon represents the mint master's mark Yves Sampos. Specimens in circulation coin sets bear an "F" (for France) in the 6 o'clock star.

🔎		Malta	11 Dec. 2020	Games 5th coin of the from children in solidarity series	20002 20007 20008	220,000	•
	Description : The coin design of the student Ymen Riahi emerged victorious from design competitions of the "From Children with Solidarity" campaign at secondary schools in Malta ‐ the proceeds of the minting will be donated to a relief organisation. The coin design shows a compilation of popular traditional games and toys used by Maltese children, such as marbles, spinning tops, balls and kites, as they are traditionally made and flown. Three bees flying in a circle allude to a popular Maltese children's song. The Maltese jumping game "Il-Passju" is also presented: a chalk grid is drawn on the street with numbers from 1 to 9 representing the nine months of pregnancy. Each of the two children playing has to throw a stone onto each numbered square, starting with number one. If the stone lands on the correct number, the player must hop onto the corresponding square. If they succeed, they move on to the next number. If the stone does not land on the correct square, it is the other player's turn. The winner is the first player to reach number 9. At the top the name of the issuing country "Malta" is shown and at the bottom the year of issue "2020". The coin was produced without a mint mark by the French mint Monnaie de Paris in Plessac; on Coincard specimens the year is flanked on the right by a cornucopia as their mint mark.

🔎		Malta	02 Aug. 2021	Heroes of the Pandamic	20002 20003 20005	72,500	•
	Description : In the wake of the respiratory syndromes caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 coronaviruses, the World Health Organisation declared COVID‐19 a global pandemic on the 11th of March 2020. In Malta, too, the health system reached its limits in caring for the sick. Nurse Diane Faenza took a photo of her colleagues Doreen Zammit and Charmaine Cauchi in the intensive care unit of Mater Dei Hospital in Msida, lying exhausted in each other's arms. Maria Anna Frisone used this photo as a model for her coin design, which pays tribute to the heroes of the pandemic. At the top, the reason for the issue is written in English: "HEROES OF THE PANDEMIC", and at the bottom, "MALTA ‐ 2021" indicates the country and year of issue. The ligatured initials "MAF" of the designer are shown on the right. The coin was made by the French mint Monnaie de Paris in Plessac, with a cornucopia as their mint mark on the left. Below it is the square mintmaster's logo of the French chief engraver Joaquin Jimenez.

🔎		Malta	26 Oct. 2021	Tarxien Temples 6th coin of the Maltese Prehistoric Sites series	20002 20007 20008	181,000	•
	Description : In 1914, a farmer in Tarxien discovered large limestone blocks while ploughing. Due to the discovery of the nearby hypogeum of Ħal‐Saflieni, which became known in 1902, he suspected they might have archaeological significance and informed the director of the national museum, Themistocles Zammit. He immediately began excavations, which by 1920 had uncovered four distinct, interconnected temples dating between 3600 and 2500 BC, the final phase of the Neolithic period. The discovery of the temple complex contributed to the development of Malta's national identity and confirmed the existence of an ancient culture on the Maltese islands. In 1992, the Tarxien Temples were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Megalithic Temples of Malta. The coin, designed by Noel Galea Bason, shows the central temple built between 2900 and 2500 BC. Below it is the altar ‐ presumably used for animal sacrifices ‐ of the Western Temple built around 3000 BC, which is now kept in the National Archaeological Museum of Malta in Valletta. Spirals are depicted as an ornament on it. The issue occasion "TARXIEN TEMPLES 3600‐2500 BC" is written in three lines at the top. On the right are the designer's initials "NGB" and at the bottom the country of issue "MALTA" and the year of issue "2021". The coin was produced without mint mark by the French mint Monnaie de Paris in Plessac; on Coincard specimens the year is flanked on the left by a cornucopia as their mint mark, while on the right the square mintmaster's mark represents the French chief engraver Joaquin Jimenez. Specimens included in coin sets bear an "F" (for France) in the 6 o'clock star.

🔎		Malta	17 Nov. 2022	Hypogeum of Ħal‐Saflieni 7th coin of the Maltese Prehistoric Sites series	20003 20005 20009	180,000	•
	Description : A hypogeum is an underground burial structure with a vault. In 1899, the underground Neolithic temple complex of Ħal‐Saflieni was accidentally discovered in the Maltese city of Paola during the construction of a cystern for new buildings. However, the sensational find was only reported to the authorities in 1902, who then immediately ordered a halt to construction. Skeletons of around 7000 people were found in the caves. During the first excavations by the archaeologist Manuel Magri, part of the excavated material ‐ containing human remains and grave goods ‐ disappeared and the excavation report was also lost with Magri's death in 1907. The physician, chemistry professor, historian and archaeologist Themistocles Zammit continued the excavations until 1911 and handed over the now carefully documented finds from the hypogeum ‐ such as the terracotta figure of the 'Sleeping Lady' (sleeping Venus) ‐ to the National Archaeological Museum in Valletta, which he directed. The hypogeum, dated to between 4000 and 2500 BC and partly decorated with ochre paintings, has a total area of around 500 square metres and was driven into the soft limestone to a depth of 10 metres. It was recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1980. The coin motif is the room called 'Holy of Holies', which shows a complete façade with threshold and orthostats, borrowed from the architecture of the above‐ground megalithic temples of Malta, but carved into the rock, with a cantilevered vault above. Below is written in two lines "ĦAL‐SAFLIENI HYPOGEUM" as the occasion of issue and below that the age "4000 ‐ 2500 BC". On the top in two lines, "MALTA 2022" is the name of the issuing country and the year of issue. The signet "NGB" of the mint designer Noel Galea Bason appears at the bottom right. The coin was produced without mint mark by the Royal Dutch mint Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt in Houten.

🔎		Malta	17 Nov. 2022	35th anniversary of the Erasmus Program	20003 20005 20009	82,500	•
	Description : ERASMUS is a backronym for EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students. The ERASMUS exchange programme is aimed at EU citizens who have been studying at a university for at least one year and supports a three to twelve‐month stay abroad at a university within the EU, or an internship. In addition, there are master's and doctoral programmes, programmes for young entrepreneurs, for school education, vocational training and adult education. Internships as well as professional development measures are financially supported and language courses abroad are also made possible for working people. The backronym refers to the Dutch philosopher and theologian Erasmus of Rotterdam (∼1466‐1536), described as "the crowning glory of the Christian humanists", depicted after a painting by Hans Holbein the Younger created in 1523. The French coin designer Joaquin Jimenez, whose initials "J.J." appear next to Erasmus' pen, has designed as a background a network of connecting lines between the twelve stars arranged in a circle and symbolising Europe, which is intended to represent the manifold intellectual and human exchanges between European students. By relieving some partial areas between the connecting lines, the numbers 3 and 5 emerge, referring to the 35th anniversary of the programme. In a block of three to four lines of lettering arranged in a quarter circle at the bottom right, the commemorative period is written as "1987-2022" (the last number also designating the year of issue) below the occasion of issue, followed by the name of the issuing state, if this does not consist of an abbreviation placed in the centre of the motif. National characteristics : The quarter circle at the bottom right has four lines; below the commemorative period the occasion of issue "ERASMUS PROGRAMME" is written in two lines, below it the issuing country "Malta" is centred. The coin was produced without mint mark by the Dutch mint Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt in Houten. The coin belongs to those with a more structured background.

🔎		Malta	17 Nov. 2022	United Nations Security Council Resolution on Women Peace and Security	20003 20005 20009	53,000	•
	Description : The Women's Rights Convention ('UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women'), adopted by the UN General Assembly on the 18th of December 1979, is a United Nations international convention on women's rights. On the 31st of October 2000, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1325, which deals with the role of women in peace and security processes. This was the first time that the participation of women was confirmed as necessary to build and maintain peace. Conflict prevention, peace processes and post‐conflict rehabilitation were thus recognised as women's and thus human rights. And for the first time, the Security Council made it clear that sexualised and gender‐based violence is a crime that must be systematically punished and eliminated. The core of the resolution is the participation of women in peace processes, the prevention of wars and protection against gender‐based violence. This resolution laid the foundation for the 'Women, Peace and Security Agenda'. The coin designer Antonella Napolione chose a Venus symbol representing the female sex, partly superimposed by three female heads depicted in profile. The issue occasion "UNSCR 1325" (acronym for United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325) is shown in two lines at the bottom right of the Venus symbol. In English, "WOMEN PEACE SECURITY" is written in an arc at the top and on the right, with a stylised olive branch behind each of the three words. At the bottom left, the country of issue and the year of issue are indicated in the form of an arc with "MALTA 2022". The designer's signet "A.NAPOLIONE" is visible at the bottom centre. The coin was produced without mint mark by the Royal Dutch mint Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt in Houten.

🔎		Malta	14 Sep. 2023	550th anniversary of the birthday of Nicolaus Copernicus	20003 20005 20009	90,500	•
	Description : Nicolaus Copernicus (1473‐1543), born Niklas Koppernigk in the Hanseatic city of Thorn, spoke German and Polish and learned Greek, Latin and Italian. He was a canon of the Prussian prince‐bishopric of Ermland (Polish: Warmia), which was under Polish protection, as well as a doctor and astronomer. After his father's death in 1483, his mother's brother, Lucas Watzenrode, Prince‐Bishop of Warmia, secured his maintenance and education. From 1491 to 1494 Copernicus studied the seven liberal arts (grammar, rhetoric, dialectics, arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy) at the University of Cracow; in 1496 he began studies of both laws at the University of Bologna. In 1501 he transferred to the University of Padua to study medicine, obtained a doctorate in canon law in 1503 and became secretary and personal physician to his uncle at the bishop's residence, Heilsberg Castle. He got a job in the cathedral chapter of Frauenburg (Frombork), of which he was chancellor from 1510. There he set up an observatory in a tower of the cathedral fortress in 1514. As administrator he regulated the affairs of government from 1516 to 1519 and worked out a pioneering monetary theory in the negotiations on the reform of Prussian coinage. Copernicus lived in Olsztyn Castle during this time. An astronomical panel for calculating the equinox painted on the plaster of the castle's cloister has been preserved to this day. After the destruction of Frauenburg in the so‐called Horsemen's War, Copernicus moved his residence to Allenstein in 1520 and organised the defence of the city against the Knights of the Order. For his astronomical observations he used the quadrant, triple rod and armillary sphere. In 1542, ten years after completing his Latin manuscript, Copernicus gave his consent to the printing of his findings "On the Orbits of the Celestial Spheres" and, according to legend, it was not until the day of his death in 1543 that the last pages of his printed life's work could be presented to him. Today also called the Copernican world view, it describes the sun as the resting centre of the universe around which the planets, including the earth, move. The coin designed by Daniela Fusco shows on the right the face part of the bronze seated image of Copernicus created for Olsztyn in 2003. The centre of the motif is the sun, whose halo of rays overlaps the circular orbits of the inner three planets surrounding it. Venus is shown on its orbit on the left and the Earth on top. On the upper left is the arched inscription "NICOLAUS KOPERNICUS 1473‐1543", on the lower left "• MALTA 2023" the issuing country and the year of issue. The designer's signet "FUSCO" appears at the bottom. The coin was produced without mint mark by the Royal Dutch mint Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt in Houten.

🔎		Malta	14 Sep. 2023	225th anniversary of the arrival of the French in Malta	20003 20005	80,500	•
	Work in progress

References :
20001	Images taken with authorisation by the ECB ‐ Mail dated 20.Feb.2020 © "European Central Bank"	20002	Data mirrored from Wikipedia Page "2_euro_commemorative_coins" with friendly support of the guardians of that page.
20003	Images taken with authorisation by H....... Hamburg	20004	Coloured version of this Commemorative Coin in circulation EU‐legal‐technical specifications do not recongnise colour prints. The EU nevertheless tolerates them, as their numbers are very small and they are sold in special packs and therefor are very unlikely to be used as currency.
20005	enlarged Images taken with authorisation by Gerd Seyffert © "Gerd Seyffert 2021"	20006	Not Applicable
20007	Images taken by Münzen Kreuzberg © "Münzen Kreuzberg 2021"	20008	enlarged Images taken by Münzen Kreuzberg © "Münzen Kreuzberg 2021"
20009	Text with kind permission by Gerd Seyffert © "Gerd Seyffert 2023"	20010	Not Applicable