Currency

430 years in defence of Christian Europe

1993

430 years in defence of Christian Europe

430 years in defence of Christian Europe - Cupronickel              430 years in defence of Christian Europe - Silver          430 years in defence of Christian Europe - Gold

Malta was given to the Order of St John by Emperor Charles V in 1530. The Order had been involved in fighting the Ottoman Empire since the 13th century.  In 1565 the Ottomans attempted to invade Malta but the island, defended by the knights and its inhabitants, endured a three-month siege.

In 1571 the galleys of the Order of St John joined a Christian fleet and took part in the Battle of Lepanto, making a significant contribution to the victory obtained by Don Juan of Austria against the Ottoman fleet. The Great Siege of Malta of 1565, the Battle of Lepanto of 1571 and the decisive Battle of Vienna of 1683 marked the effective decline of the Ottoman threat to Europe.  

Type

Denomination

Diameter (mm)

Gross Weight (g)

Finesse

Designer

Mint

Mintage

Cupronickel BU

Lm1

38.6

25

n/a

Coin Invest, Liechtenstein

Valcambi, Switzerland

25,000

Silver Proof

 Lm5

38.6

25

0.925

 Coin Invest, Liechtenstein

Valcambi, Switzerland

 35,000

Gold Proof

Lm25

23

6.72

0.9

Coin Invest, Liechtenstein

Valcambi, Switzerland

2,500