Gloster Gladiators and Skorba themes chosen for numismatic issues

The Malta Coin Centre of the Central Bank of Malta has launched two numismatic coin issues on 27 July, one in silver marking the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II and a commemorative €2 coin depicting the prehistoric temples of Skorba.

On the same date, the bank also issued its 2020 coin set, which includes eight Maltese euro coins dated 2020 and the €2 Skorba coin.

The World War II coins depict three Gloster Gladiator biplanes in flight over the Maltese islands. The artist, Noel Galea Bason, chose these legendary aircraft, dubbed Faith, Hope and Charity, as they epitomise Malta’s unequal fight against the might of the Axis forces and remain one of the enduring symbols of Malta’s wartime experience.

The coins, which have a face value of €10, are limited to 2,000 pieces and were minted by the Royal Dutch Mint. The coins will be sold for €65.

The Skorba coin is the fifth in a series of seven coins dedicated to Malta’s unique prehistoric sites. The Unesco World Heritage Site, found in the hamlet of Żebbiegħ at the limits of Mġarr, is believed to date to around 3,500BC. The temples were built on top of an earlier settlement dating to around 5,000BC.

These coins were struck in circulation quality at the Monnaie de Paris in France, with the temple side designed by Bason. The issue is limited to 170,000 coins, of which 150,000 will be issued in rolls and 20,000 will be available in cards. The cost of a roll of 25 coins is €70, while that of a coin card is €7. The bank last Monday also issued its 2020 coin set, which includes eight Maltese euro coins dated 2020 and the €2 Skorba coin, all in brilliant uncirculated quality, and which will be sold for €26.

The sets, which will be limited to 10,000, were struck at the Monnaie de Paris in France and will be presented in an attractive blister pack.

To avoid disappointment, customers are encouraged to order from the MCC's e-shop at www.maltacoincentre.com. Alternatively, they may visit the MCC counter at the main building of the Central Bank of Malta, Castille Place, Valletta, which is open Mondays to Fridays from 8am to noon, excluding public holidays.

For further information, the public is kindly requested to contact the Malta Coin Centre via email on mcc@centralbankmalta.org or by calling on (+356) 2550 6006/7/8.