Deutsch
English
Français
Español
Italiano
Nederlands
Português
Slovenčina
Hrvatski
Slovenščina
Lietuvių
Eesti
Български
CC 253 2016
Coincard
BU Mint mark Monnaie de Paris
Coincard
Malta · Series: Prehistoric Sites, Ġgantija Temples
Mintage30,000
Issue price€7.00
Issue date22 Aug 2016
PackagingCoincard
Edge lettering2 ✠✠ × 6, alternately upright/inverted
Market price€15.50
Issue occasion
The commemorative coin is dedicated to the Ġgantija temple complex on the island of Gozo. The design depicts the Neolithic megalithic temple, which was constructed around the 36th century BC and is one of the oldest free-standing and religious structures in the world. The inscriptions “ĠGANTIJA TEMPLES” and “3800-3200 BC” appear in the upper right.
The design
At the centre of the coin is a depiction of the Ġgantija temple complex located on the island of Gozo. Ġgantija is a megalithic temple dating from the Neolithic period. It is one of the oldest freestanding structures in the world and one of the oldest religious buildings. The temple complex was built around the 36th century BC, making it older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. The inscription “ĠGANTIJA TEMPLES” is engraved in the upper right of the inner coin ring, with the date “3800-3200 BC” below it. At the bottom left are the issuing country “MALTA” and the year of issue “2016”, framed by the mint master’s mark and the mintmark.
The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the outer coin ring.
The twelve stars of the European flag are depicted on the outer coin ring.
Background on the topic
Ġgantija consists of two temple structures directly adjacent to each other, enclosed by a common outer wall. Their floor plans follow a pattern typical of Maltese temple culture: a central passage leads from a forecourt into several semicircular rooms arranged along the sides. Particularly large, durable limestone blocks were used for the outer walls; easier-to-work limestone was used inside. Some blocks weigh several tonnes.
Only archaeological finds provide information about the communities that built these structures, as they left no written records. They presumably lived from agriculture and animal husbandry. Altars, animal bones, hearths and vessels indicate that communal ceremonies and sacrificial activities took place in the temples. However, the exact nature of the rituals and the deities worshipped cannot be determined with certainty. Human figures found on Malta are often associated with fertility or ancestor worship, but do not permit an unambiguous interpretation.
The name Ġgantija is derived from the Maltese word for “giantess” or “giant”. A local tradition explained the unusually large stone blocks by claiming that the structure had been built by a gigantic being. Such stories arose long before the construction methods and age of the complex could be examined archaeologically.
The complex was uncovered in the 19th century, although the early excavations did not yet meet modern archaeological standards. Later investigations enabled a more precise classification of the individual construction phases. Ġgantija has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980; further Maltese megalithic structures were subsequently incorporated into this World Heritage Site.
The 2016 issue launched a Maltese coin series dedicated to the country’s prehistoric sites. In the following years, further temple complexes and the underground Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum were depicted. The choice of Ġgantija as the opening subject thus referred to the independent temple culture of the Maltese archipelago.
Only archaeological finds provide information about the communities that built these structures, as they left no written records. They presumably lived from agriculture and animal husbandry. Altars, animal bones, hearths and vessels indicate that communal ceremonies and sacrificial activities took place in the temples. However, the exact nature of the rituals and the deities worshipped cannot be determined with certainty. Human figures found on Malta are often associated with fertility or ancestor worship, but do not permit an unambiguous interpretation.
The name Ġgantija is derived from the Maltese word for “giantess” or “giant”. A local tradition explained the unusually large stone blocks by claiming that the structure had been built by a gigantic being. Such stories arose long before the construction methods and age of the complex could be examined archaeologically.
The complex was uncovered in the 19th century, although the early excavations did not yet meet modern archaeological standards. Later investigations enabled a more precise classification of the individual construction phases. Ġgantija has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980; further Maltese megalithic structures were subsequently incorporated into this World Heritage Site.
The 2016 issue launched a Maltese coin series dedicated to the country’s prehistoric sites. In the following years, further temple complexes and the underground Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum were depicted. The choice of Ġgantija as the opening subject thus referred to the independent temple culture of the Maltese archipelago.