Obverse. Without mintmark. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 2 Euro 2012, KM# 145, Malta, Constitutional History, 1887 Majority Representation, Without mintmark
  • 2 Euro 2012, KM# 145, Malta, Constitutional History, 1887 Majority Representation
  • 2 Euro 2012, KM# 145, Malta, Constitutional History, 1887 Majority Representation, With mintmark (Mercury's wand)
Description

The coin commemorating the Malta Independence constitution of 1964 is the second in the series of five coins that commemorate constitutional milestones in Maltese history. Following the 1846 Carnival riots, in 1849 a Council of Government with elected members under British rule was set up. In 1870 a referendum was held on ecclesiastics serving on Council of Government, and in 1881 an Executive Council under British rule was created; in 1887, the Council of Government was entrusted with "dual control" under British rule.

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

Depicts eight men in front of the Grandmaster's Palace in Valletta, the inscription 'MALTA – Majority Representation 1987' above. Date below. The twelve stars of the European Union surround the design on the outer ring of the coin.

The Grandmaster's Palace, officially known as The Palace, is a palace in Valletta, Malta. It was built between the 16th and 18th centuries as the palace of the Grand Master of the Order of St. John, who ruled Malta, and was also known as the Magisterial Palace. It eventually became the Governor's Palace, and it currently houses the Office of the President of Malta. Parts of the building, namely the Palace State Rooms and the Palace Armoury, are open to the public as a museum run by Heritage Malta.

Engraver: Ganni Bonnici

MALTA – Majority representation 1887
2012

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
1887 Majority Representation

Subscribe series
KM# 145
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)

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