Malta · Series: Constitutional History of Malta, 5th issue, Parliamentary Republic

Issue date23 Jun 2015

Total mintage435,000

EU maximum400,000

Editions3

Edge lettering2 ✠✠ × 6, alternately upright/inverted

InscriptionMALTA — Republic 1974 / 2015

DesignerĠanni Bonnici

mintKoninklijke Nederlandse Munt, Utrecht

Issue occasion

The commemorative coin commemorates the proclamation of the Republic of Malta on 13 December 1974 following constitutional amendments supported by a large majority of the Maltese Parliament. The design shows a marble plaque on the façade of the President’s Palace in Valletta and symbolises Malta’s transition from a monarchy to a republic. The inscription “MALTA — Republic 1974” and the year “2015” are also shown.

The design

The coin concludes a series of five commemorative coins commemorating milestones in Malta’s constitutional history. Malta was declared a republic on 13 December 1974, following constitutional amendments supported by a large majority of the Maltese Parliament. The coin design depicts a marble plaque mounted on the façade of the President’s Palace in Valletta and symbolises Malta’s transition from a monarchy to a republic. The semicircular inscription “MALTA — Republic 1974” is shown at the top right. The year “2015” appears at the bottom.

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

Background on the topic

Malta had been under British rule since the early 19th century and became independent in 1964. The new state initially remained a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth. The head of state continued to be Queen Elisabeth II as Queen of Malta; on the islands, she was represented by a governor-general. Government affairs were conducted by the elected parliament and the cabinet under the leadership of the prime minister.

The republican form of government abolished this institutional connection to the British Crown without Malta thereby leaving the Commonwealth. The monarch was replaced by a president elected by parliament, whose duties were primarily representational and constitutional. The first president was Anthony Mamo, who had previously served as the last governor-general. The prime minister at the time was Dom Mintoff of the Labour Party. The transformation into a republic should be distinguished from the withdrawal of the last British forces in 1979, which Malta commemorates with “Freedom Day”.

The President’s Palace, on whose façade the plaque depicted on the coin is located, is closely connected with Malta’s changing forms of government. The building was constructed during the period of the Order of Saint John as the Palace of the Grand Masters. During British rule, it served as the official residence of the governors. Later, it became the seat of the Maltese head of state; for many years, parliament also met there. The building thus links the period of the Order, colonial rule and the independent republican state.

The issue formed part of a five-coin series on Malta’s constitutional history. The preceding coins dealt with the first elected popular representatives of 1849, majority representation in 1887, self-government in 1921 and independence in 1964. The republic marked the chronological conclusion of this series. Its selection as a coin theme is therefore explained not only by an anniversary, but also by the significance of this step within the gradual development of Maltese self-government and statehood.