Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 2 Euro 2015, KM# 167, Malta, Constitutional History, Proclamation of the Republic of Malta in 1974
  • 2 Euro 2015, KM# 167, Malta, Constitutional History, Proclamation of the Republic of Malta in 1974
  • 2 Euro 2015, KM# 167, Malta, Constitutional History, Proclamation of the Republic of Malta in 1974, With mintmark (Mercury's wand)
Description

Malta issued a series of five 2 Euro commemorative coins, all related to the Maltese constitutional history, which includes the following coins: 2011 - First Election of Representatives in 1849, 2012 - 1887 Majority Representation, 2013 - Establishment of Self-Government in 1921, 2014 - Independence from Britain in 1964 and 2015 - Proclamation of the Republic of Malta in 1974.

Malta achieved its independence on 21 September 1964 (Independence Day) after intense negotiations with the United Kingdom, led by Maltese Prime Minister George Borġ Olivier. Under its 1964 constitution, Malta initially retained Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Malta and thus Head of State, with a Governor-General exercising executive authority on her behalf. In 1971, the Malta Labour Party led by Dom Mintoff won the General Elections, resulting in Malta declaring itself a republic on 13 December 1974 (Republic Day) within the Commonwealth, with the President as head of state.

The coin is the last in a series of five commemorating Maltese constitutional milestones.

There are two types of this coin:
• without mint mark (in rolls and Proof)
• with the Mercury's wand mint mark of the Royal Dutch Mint between the stars at the 5h and 6h position of the obverse (in annual BU set)

Obverse

The design reproduces a marble tablet (old coat of arms above text) affixed to the façade of the Presidential Palace in Valletta to mark Malta's change from a monarchy to a republic. At the top right, in semi-circle, the inscription ‘MALTA — Republic 1974’. At the bottom, the year ‘2015’.

The coat of arms was adopted on the 11 July 1975, seven months after Malta became a republic. It showed a coastal scene with the rising sun, a traditional Maltese boat (Luzzu), a shovel and a pitchfork, and an Opuntia. The emblem was controversial since it was not heraldic, and it was replaced by the current coat of arms soon after the Nationalists won the 1987 election. It was proposed that the 1964 coat of arms be readopted, but eventually a simplified version of it was chosen.

Engraver: Ganni Bonnici

MALTA - Republic 1974
REPUBBLIKA TA' MALTA
13 TA' DIĊEMBRU 1974 MALTA XBURIJA
LI L-PERLAMENT TAGHHA B'MAĠĠORANZA XBIRA
IDDIKJARAHA REPUBBLIKA L-AQWA ĠIEH LI KIBBET
GHALL-EWWEL DARBA FIL-ĠRAJJA TEGHHA
2015

Reverse

A geographical map of Western Europe spans the outer ring and inner core on the right side of the coin. The inscription 2 EURO is superimposed over the map of Europe, with the numeral “2” located in an open field representing the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

12 stars are located on the right side of the outer ring, with six stars atop the map of Europe and six stars below it; six vertical stripes cut across the inner core of the coin, visually connecting the upper and lower star segments.

Luc Luycx, a designer at the Royal Belgian Mint, designed the Euro’s common reverse; his initials, LL, are seen on the right side of the design, just under the “O” in “EURO.”

2 EURO
LL

Edge

The sequence "2✠✠" repeated six times alternately upright and inverted

2 ✠✠ 2 ✠✠ 2 ✠✠ 2 ✠✠ 2 ✠✠ 2 ✠✠

2 Euro

Constitutional History
Proclamation of the Republic of Malta in 1974

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KM# 167
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Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Bi-Metallic
Ring Cupronickel
Center Nickel Brass
Weight 8.5 g
Diameter 25.75 mm
Thickness 2.2 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Dutch Mint (KNM)

Related coins

First Election of Representatives in 1849

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Bi-Metallic, 8.5 g, ⌀ 25.75 mm
1887 Majority Representation

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Bi-Metallic, 8.5 g, ⌀ 25.75 mm
Establishment of Self-Government in 1921

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Bi-Metallic, 8.5 g, ⌀ 25.75 mm