Maltese euro coins


Maltese euro coins feature three separate designs for the three series of coins. Malta has been a member of the European Union since 1 May 2004, and is a member of the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union. Malta adopted the euro as its official currency on 1 January 2008, replacing the Maltese lira. For a period of one month until 31 January, there was a dual circulation for Malta where the Euro and Maltese lira were used alongside each other.

Maltese euro designs

For images of the common side and a detailed description of the coins, see euro coins.

Design selection process

The selection of the designs of the coins was decided by public consultation in two rounds. The first round of the consultation process started on 14 January 2006 and ended on 29 January 2006. During this period the Maltese public could participate in the process by choosing from a total of twelve options, divided into four design themes – Prehistoric Malta, Renaissance Malta, The Maltese Identity and The Maltese Archipelago. Three different options were presented for each theme.
The results of the first round voting were The Baptism of Christ in St John’s Co-Cathedral, Malta’s Coat of Arms and Mnajdra Temple Altar. Another design, The Fort St. Angelo option, received 2037 votes, but was not included as one of the three chosen options, since the Baptism of Christ received the most votes in that theme.
Along with the visual design options, the public was also given several alternative options, which were voted on in the same manner. The first and second most popular suggestions made by the public were the Maltese cross and Dun Karm, respectively on the Maltese euro coin set. The Steering Committee for the adoption of the euro ultimately decided to include the most popular suggestion, the Maltese Cross, with the three chosen by the public.
These four finalists were then sent to a designer and four designs were rendered for the second round of voting.
During the second phase, running from 29 May until 9 June 2006, the public was asked to choose the actual designs for the euro coins from the four mock ups produced by the designer. The three designs with the highest number of votes would then become the final design for the Maltese face of the euro coin set.
The results of the second round were Maltese cross, followed by the Coat of arms of Malta and the Mnajdra Temples.
The Central Bank of Malta released the final designs of the euro coins on 19 February 2007.
On 23 October 2007, the designs were officially published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Mintage quantities

Mints

2008, 2016-2018: France

2010-2015: Netherlands

Identifying marks

National Identifier"MALTA"
Mint MarkF
Engravers Initials1,2, 5 cent NGB
€2 Edge inscription

€2 commemorative coins

YearFeatureVolumeNote
2009Ten years of Economic and Monetary Union and the birth of the euro700,000commonly issued coin
2011First elective representatives 1849430,000
201210th Anniversary of Euro coins and banknotes670,000commonly issued coin
2012Majority representation 1887400,000
2013Self-government 1921500,000
2014Independence 1964432,500
2014200 years Malta Police Force300,000
2015Centenary of the First Flight from Malta
2016Ggantija Temples
2016Love

Other commemorative coins (Collectors' coins)

Malta joined the Eurozone in 2008 and they have minted several collectors' coins in silver and gold. Their face value range from 10 to 50 euro. This is mainly done as a legacy of old national practice of minting gold and silver coins. These coins are not intended to be used as means of payment, so they do not circulate.