Malta · Series: Constitutional History of Malta, 2nd issue, 1887 Majority voting system

Issue date15 Oct 2012

Total mintage405,000

EU maximum430,000

Editions3

Edge lettering2 ✠✠ × 6, alternately upright/inverted

InscriptionMALTA — Majority representation 1887 / 2012

DesignerĠanni Bonnici

mintKoninklijke Nederlandse Munt, Utrecht

Issue occasion

The commemorative coin commemorates the introduction of majority voting rights in 1887. The design by Gianni Bonnici depicts a triumphant crowd in front of the Grandmaster's Palace (Großmeisterpalast) in Valletta, along with the inscription “MALTA — Majority representation 1887” and the year “2012”.

The design

The coin designed by the Maltese artist Gianni Bonnici depicts a triumphant crowd in front of the Großmeisterpalast in Valletta. The inscription “MALTA — Majority representation 1887” is arranged in a semicircle along the upper edge of the inner coin ring, with the year “2012” along the lower edge.

The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the outer coin ring.

Background on the topic

From 1814 onward, Malta was under British rule as a Crown Colony. The political participation of the population was initially severely limited. Although a constitution of 1849 created a Governing Council with elected representatives, they did not form a majority compared with the appointed members. The decisive powers thus remained with the governor and the colonial administration.

The reform of 1887 changed this balance: In the Governing Council, the elected members for the first time held a majority over the members appointed ex officio or by the colonial power. The English expression “majority representation” therefore refers here not primarily to a majoritarian electoral system, but to the majority position of the elected representatives in the legislative body. Nevertheless, there could be no question of universal democratic suffrage in the modern sense. Eligibility to vote was linked, among other things, to gender and property or income; large sections of the population remained excluded. In addition, the British governor retained extensive powers.

The constitutional amendment was preceded by demands from Maltese political groups for greater self-government. One of the leading figures was Fortunato Mizzi, who opposed greater cultural and linguistic alignment with Great Britain. At the time, questions of political representation were closely connected with disputes over administration, taxation, education and the status of the Italian language.

The Grandmaster’s Palace (Großmeisterpalast) was originally the official residence of the leaders of the Johanniterorden. During the British colonial period, it served as the governor’s residence and housed political institutions. It therefore represents on the coin not only Valletta, but also the site of colonial rule and parliamentary activity.

The constitutional order of 1887 did not remain in force permanently; in 1903, the elected majority was abolished again. Nevertheless, the reform is regarded as one stage on the path to self-government. The issue formed part of a Maltese coin series on the country’s constitutional history, which covered further stages from the first elected representatives to the republic.