2023 MALTA numismatic program

Last update 07/17/2023 – The Maltese Central Bank announced a few days ago the guidelines of its 2023 numismatic program. The 2023 numismatic issues include four commemorative coins for collectors, two €2 commemorative coins and an annual monetary set including the annual divisional series.

75 years of the National Band Clubs Association

In Malta and Gozo there are around ninety-one band clubs, with some places having more than one band club. The formation of bands was probably triggered by the presence of British military bands in Malta.  Some of the oldest band clubs actually started out as social circles, which in the Italianate parlance of the time were referred to as the ‘circolo’ or ‘casino’. 

After numerous attempts to affiliate all the Maltese band clubs throughout the years, in 1947 Michael-Angelo Delia, of the St Joseph Band Club of Hamrun, proposed a motion to invite all the band clubs of Malta and Gozo to attend a convention intended to set up an association of all band clubs.

The stature was approved on 11 January 1948 and the association made its first public appearance on 8 September 1948.  In 1975 the Association became styled as the ‘Ghaqda Kazini tal-Banda’. In 2017, the European Parliament awarded the Malta Band Clubs Association the European Citizen’s Prize.

Two coins will be minted to celebrate this anniversary, a gold coin and a silver coin.

The first €50 coin is a 916/1000 gold coin of 6.5g and 21mm in diameter. It is issued in 400 coins and was designed by the artist Noel GALEA BALSON. It is minted by the Netherlands Mint in proof quality.

Gold coin

Denomination: €50
Diameter: 21.00mm
Weight: 6.5g
Alloy: 0.916 gold
Minting Limit: 400
Reverse Design: Noel Galea Bason
Obverse Design: Noel Galea Bason

Mint: KNM (dutch Mint)
Issue date: 18 July 2023

The second coin of €10 is a silver coin 925/1000 of 38,61g and 28,28g of diameter. Malta will issue 1,000 coins and is designed by the artist Noel GALEA BALSON. It is struck by the Mint of the Netherlands (KNM) in proof quality.

Silver coin

Denomination: €10
Diameter: 38.61mm
Weight: 28.28g
Alloy: 0.925 silver
Minting Limit: 1,000 coins
Reverse Design: Noel Galea Bason
Obverse Design: Noel Galea Bason

Mint: KNM (dutch Mint)
Issue date: 18 July 2023

175th anniversary of the death of

JUAN BAUTISTA AZOPARDO

The Maltese Central Bank is issuing a €10 silver coin dedicated to the privateer and career soldier Juan Bautista Azopardo.

Juan Bautista Azopardo was born in Senglea on 19 February 1772.  At a young age he travelled to France and served an apprenticeship at the Toulon naval arsenal.  It appears that between 1793 and 1803, he was involved with french and even british naval squadrons.

He later served on corsair ships and distinguished himself in combat against the British when the invaded Buenos Aires in 1806 and again in 1807.  In 1807, Azopardo was appointed a Lt Colonel of the urban militia raised to face the emergency caused by the British invasion which was repulsed in August 1807.

In 1810, Juan Bautista Azopardo, was given command of a small naval squadron, which many regard as the historic roots of the modern Argentinian Navy.  On 2 March 1811, during the Battle of San Nicolas, Azopardo’s squadron was overwhelmed by a superior royalist force.  Azopardo was wounded and taken prisoner.

Azopardo was condemned as a political dissident and was imprisoned in Spain.  In 1820, a revolution in Spain led to the establishment of a liberal government, which freed all political prisoners.  Azopardo returned to a hero’s welcome in Buenos Aires and 1825, was given a command in the Argentinian Navy and fought during the Cisplatine War (1825-1828) between Argentina and Brazil.  He died on 23 October 1848.

Silver coin

Denomination: €10
Diameter: 38.61mm
Weight: 28.28g
Alloy: 0.925 silver
Minting Limit: 600
Reverse Design: Antonella Napolione
Obverse Design: Noel Galea Bason

Condition: Proof

Mint: KNM
Issue date: 18 July 2023

150th anniversary of the birth of John BORG

John Borg was born in Balzan on 9 November 1873.  In 1883, he studied at the Lyceum in Valletta and later at the University of Malta, where he studied Natural history.  He graduated in medicine in 1898.

Although a doctor by profession, his love of nature and natural history led him to take on the responsibilities of Superintendent of Public Gardens in 1900.  He was instrumental in creating new public gardens, re-arranging existing ones and also embarked on a tree-planting programme around Malta.

Borg can be considered a pioneer in the field of natural heritage conservation in the Maltese islands.  He identified a number of trees that had historic value and others that were at least 200 years old, and in 1933 had them listed under the Antiquities Act of 1925.

John Borg built a comprehensive collection of cactus and succulents which was considered to be one of the best collections in Europe.  In 1945 he donated his collection of around 4,000 plants of 600 different species to the Argotti Botanic Gardens.  John Borg died on 4 may 1945 aged 72 years. 

Silver coin

Denomination: €10
Diameter: 38.61mm
Weight: 28.28g
Alloy : 0.925 silver
Minting Limit : 600
Reverse Design : Maria Anna Frisone
Obverse Design : Noel Galea Bason

Mint: KNM (dutch Mint)

Condition: Proof
Issue date : 18 July 2023

Stamp dedicated to maltese botanist John BORG

2023 €2 Birth of Nicolas COPERNICUS

Issue: 85,000 coins

Issuing date: September 2023

Mint: Netherlands Mint (KNM)

Engraver: Daniela FUSCO

Quality: BU

€2 Napoleon BONAPARTE and the French in Malta

Issue: 85,000 coins

Issuing date: September 2023

Mint: Netherlands Mint (KNM)

Engraver: Noel Galea BASON

Quality: BU

2023 Nicolas COPERNIC annual coin set 

The annual set is announced in September 2023 with a mintage of 10,000 sets. It is dedicated to Nicolas COPERNICUS. The set will contain the €2 commemorative coin dedicated to the scientist.

Sources: Malta Central Bank and NUMISMAG.