Malta · Series: From children with solidarity, love

Issue date5 Dec 2016

Total mintage380,000

EU maximum380,000

Editions3

Edge lettering2 ✠✠ × 6, alternately upright/inverted

InscriptionMALTA 2016

DesignerSarah Cilia

mintMonnaie de Paris, Pessac

Issue occasion

The coin honours the social significance of the “Malta Community Chest Fund” and its “From Children in Solidarity” programme for secondary school students. The design on the theme “Solidarity through Love”, created by student Sarah Cilia, shows two hands forming a heart with the Maltese flag, as well as two stylised human figures on each wrist. Below is “MALTA 2016”.

The design

The coin is issued to commemorate the social significance of the “Malta Community Chest Fund”, which launched the “From Children in Solidarity” programme for secondary school students. The programme addresses the social role of children in five different areas, the first theme being “Solidarity through Love”. The coin’s design was created by Sarah Cilia, a secondary school student. It depicts the theme through two hands forming a heart, within which the Maltese flag can be seen. The inscription “MALTA 2016” appears below. Two stylised human figures are depicted on each side of the wrists.

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

Background on the topic

The Malta Community Chest Fund is a charitable organisation associated with the Office of the President of Malta. It supports people who require additional assistance because of illness, disability or social hardship. This includes financial and material support as well as assistance with medical treatment, particularly when treatment abroad is required. The fund thus supplements state social and healthcare services, but does not replace them.

Its funds come largely from donations. In Malta, the annual fundraising campaign “L-Istrina”, which is broadcast on television and involves numerous groups from across society, is particularly well known. Fundraising events, collections and private donations also contribute to its financing. Its close association with the presidency gives the fund a publicly visible yet non-partisan position.

The issue formed part of a multi-year Maltese coin series in which children and young people creatively expressed ideas of solidarity. The project was developed in cooperation with the Central Bank of Malta, the education sector and the Community Chest Fund. Different social themes were selected for the individual issues, including peace, cultural heritage, nature and the environment, as well as playing together. This was intended to ensure that young people were not seen merely as recipients of political or social education, but also as active participants in representing social values.

The choice of the Community Chest Fund as the subject thus connects two aspects: on the one hand, it refers to organised assistance for people in difficult circumstances; on the other, to the social education of schoolchildren. The appearance of a student design on a regular circulation coin made the participation of young people visible beyond school and competition. The coin was therefore dedicated not solely to an organisation, but was also part of an educational and participatory project.