22/04/2016

Coins to celebrate the art of Antonio Sciortino

On 25 April 2016 the Central Bank of Malta will issue numismatic coins in gold and silver celebrating the art of Antonio Sciortino. The coins are issued under the Europa Programme with the theme ‘modern 20th century’ and bear the Europa Star logo.

The gold coin has a face value of €50, while the silver coin has a face value of €10. The €10 silver coin is of 0.925 finesse and has a weight of 28.28g and a diameter of 38.61mm. The minting limit is 3,000 pieces. The €50 gold coin is of 0.916 finesse and has a weight of 6.5g and a diameter of 21mm. The minting limit is 1,000 pieces. Both coins are struck to proof quality.

The coins were designed and engraved by Noel Galea Bason, and were minted at the Royal Dutch Mint. The reverse of the coins carries a representation of Antonio Sciortino’s sculpture ‘Dangerous Sport’ which the artist produced in 1937. Sciortino is arguably Malta’s most internationally acclaimed artist. He spent most of his working life in Rome where he produced a large number of works including ‘Dangerous Sport’. Sciortino’s concern with capturing movement is evident in this artwork, which heralded the style so symbolic of the artist’s distinctly futurist oeuvre. The obverse of the coin features the new face of the Europa Programme coins which incorporates the coat of arms of Malta.

This year’s coins will be part of five-year series dedicated to different periods of European art-forms and history which have been widely grouped as: Modern 20th century (2016), The Age of iron and glass (2017), Baroque and Rococo (2018), Renaissance (2019) and Gothic (2020).

The coins may be purchased directly from the Malta Coins Distribution Centre’s online e-shop facility or from the main building of the Central Bank of Malta. The gold coin will be sold for €320 and the silver coin for €60.

For more information the public is kindly requested to contact the Bank’s Malta Coins Distribution Centre by e-mail or by calling (+356) 2550 6006/7.

 

         

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