Malta's euro coins
Malta adopted the euro as it national
currency and the euro became Malta’s legal tender on
1 January 2008.
The choice of the designs for
the national sides of Malta’s
euro coins was decided through public consultation. In the
first consultation twelve themes were presented to the public.
Of these, three of the designs - the Statue of the Baptism
of Christ, Malta’s Coat of Arms and the Mnajdra Temple
Altar - were chosen. The fourth design, that of the Maltese
eight-pointed Cross, was also considered after it received
the highest number of votes from the public as an alternative
to the twelve themes presented in the consultation process.
The second consultation resulted in the Maltese eight-pointed
Cross, Malta’s Coat of Arms and the Mnajdra Temple
Altar being chosen as designs for the Maltese euro coins.
Following the choice of the coins, the Monnaie de Paris was
awarded the contract for the minting of euro coins bearing
the Maltese national side. The Monnaie de Paris is the State-owned
mint that has been responsible for the minting of all French
euro coins.
Malta entered into an agreement with the Commission of the
European Communities through a Memorandum of Understanding
that was divided into two phases. The preparatory phase, included
the production of a certain quantity of test coins. The second
phase consisted of the mass production of the whole quantity
of coins required for the changeover, which started after Malta
received the formal approval from the EU Council of Ministers
to adopt the euro.
The designs for the Maltese side of the euro coins was approved
by the EU Commission and this resulted in some small changes
that were carried out to the original designs selected by the
public to make them conform fully to the Commission Recommendation
on common guidelines for the national sides of euro circulation
coins.
Each country in the euro area uses its own symbol or design
on
the euro
coins. Although the national sides are different, all the
euro coins can be used in all parts of the euro area.
Information on the choice of the Maltese euro coin design/
Informazzjoni dwar l-ghazla tad-disinn tal-muniti Maltin ta'
l-euro
Malti
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