Malta

The national designs of the Maltese euro coins were selected by the Central Bank of Malta and the Maltese Government after two rounds of public consultations in 2006, when people were invited to vote via SMS from their mobile phones. The designs are the work of Maltese engraver Noel Galea Bason.

• The €1 and €2 coins feature the eight-pointed Maltese cross, a symbol of Maltese identity.
• The 10, 20 and 50-cent coins reproduce the Maltese coat of arms, a shield with a heraldic representation of the Maltese flag, topped by a mural crown and bounded by two branches, an olive branch symbolising peace and a palm frond representing the Maltese identity.
• The 1, 2 and 5-cent coins depict the Mnajdra temples, a Neolithic complex dating back to 3600 BC which is considered to be one of the oldest free-standing temple groupings in the world.