€2 Commemorative - First Elected Representatives 1849
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2011
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€2 Commemorative Coin - First Elected Representatives 1849
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In 1849 Malta was granted a constitution which provided for the holding of elections. This meant that for the first time under British rule and at a time when continental Europe was in a state of reformist agitation, the Maltese electorate could vote to elect its own representatives to sit in a colonial legislature, the Council of Government, albeit in a minority. As a result of the abolition of press censorship in 1839, electoral candidates could campaign through the newspapers and public meetings, thus facilitating the formation of public opinion and slowly changing the nature of governance in Malta. These developments may have been influenced by the fact that, from the 1820s onwards, Malta was a haven for large numbers of Italian refugees many of whom had strong liberal and republican views and were striving for a united Italy.
The coin was designed by Ġanni Bonnici and shows a hand placing a vote in a ballot box symbolising the process of democratic elections.
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Type
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Denomination
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Diameter (mm)
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Gross Weight (g)
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Finesse
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Designer
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Mint
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Mintage
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BU
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€2
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25.75
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8.5
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n/a
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Ġanni Bonnici
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Royal Dutch Mint
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400,000
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Proof
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€2
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25.75
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8.5
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n/a
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Ġanni Bonnici
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Royal Dutch Mint
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5,000
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