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Symposium – History of coinage and launch of coin programme 2013

On 1 February 2013, the Central Bank of Malta hosted a symposium at its premises in Valletta to introduce its coin issuance programme for 2013 and raise public awareness of the historical significance of the coins that will be minted in the course of the current year.

The coins that will be issued by the Bank in 2013 are as follows:

i) A gold and silver numismatic coin issued under the Europa Programme 2013 “Writers” featuring Dun Karm Psaila;
ii) A euro coin set dated 2013 consisting of the eight Maltese euro circulation coins, a €2 commemorative coin, which is the third in a series of five coins featuring “Milestones in Malta’s Constitutional History” (see below) and a replica coin of the Byzantine period;
iii) A gold and silver numismatic coin featuring the façade of the Auberge de Provence;
iv) A silver numismatic coin featuring Sir Paul Boffa;
v) A €2 commemorative coin relating to Malta’s Constitutional History bearing the inscription “Self Government – 1921” to be issued both in proof quality as well as in rolls of 25 coins each;
vi) A silver numismatic coin featuring the Grand Master Emmanuel Pinto issued under the Special Programme – Fabulous 15 Silver Collection;
vii) A gold numismatic coin – Picciolo - issued under the Programme “Smallest Gold Coin in the World”.

The symposium panel, composed of expert speakers in their field, discussed the historical significance of the themes depicted on the coins to be issued by the Bank.

Chev. Joseph C. Sammut, an acclaimed numismatist and author of books on the history of coinage and currency focused on the issue of coins in the period when the country was ruled by the Order of St John.

Dr Conrad Thake, an architect, urban planner and university lecturer with a special interest in baroque, gave an exposé on the Auberge de Provence from a historic, artistic and architectural perspective.

Professor Henry Frendo, a leading historian, traced the history of Malta’s self-government constitution from 1921 to its revocation in 1936. Professor Frendo is the Director of Maltese Studies at the University of Malta, and has recently published a book entitled ‘Europe and Empire: Culture, Politics and Identity in Malta and the Mediterranean’.

Professor Oliver Friggieri, a leading litterateur and expert on the life and works of Dun Karm Psaila, discussed the national poet’s literary contribution and relevance to Malta and beyond it.

Finally, Mr Desmond Zammit Marmarà, an educationist, discussed the contribution of Sir Paul Boffa to Malta’s social and political development. Mr Zammit Marmarà has recently published a biography of Sir Boffa on the 50th anniversary of his death in 2012.

The symposium was chaired by one of the panel speakers, Professor Henry Frendo. The Governor of the Central Bank of Malta, Professor Josef Bonnici, concluded the symposium by highlighting the Bank’s numismatic issues in the light of its broader functions, including price as well as financial stability, also in the context of the Bank’s role in the eurosystem.

For full details of the Central Bank of Malta’s coin programme for 2013, please refer to the Bank’s website at www.centralbankmalta.org.