Coins of the Maltese lira

2 cents coin (1976)

Coins of the Maltese lira have been struck from when Malta adopted decimal currency in 1972, to 2007, after which Malta adopted the euro. There were 10 mils in one cent, and 100 cents in one Maltese lira.

First series (1972–1982)

The coins in this series replaced the pre-decimal Pound Sterling which had been in use in Malta since 1825. Therefore, the sizes for some coins were similar to their pre-decimal equivalents, for example the 5c was similar to the shilling and the 10c to the two shillings. These coins were designed by Christopher Ironside OBE.

In June 1975 an octagonal 25 cent coin was introduced to commemorate Malta becoming a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations on 13 December 1974. The new coat of arms appeared on the obverse side, and the 25c coin was the first coin to depict the new republic coat of arms.

Image	Value	Diameter	Composition	Edge	Obverse	Reverse	first minting	withdrawal
	2 mils	19mm	Aluminium	plain	Maltese Cross	Value	1972	1986
	3 mils	22mm	Aluminium	plain	A bee on a honeycomb	Value	1972	1986
	5 mils	26mm	Aluminium	plain	Oil lamp	Value	1972	1986
	1 cent	25mm	Bronze	plain	George Cross	Value	1972	1986
	2 cent	17mm	Cupronickel	milled	Penthesilea wearing an elm	Value	1972	2008
	5 cent	23.59	Cupronickel	milled	Megalithic altar	Value	1972	1986
	10 cents	28.52 mm	Cupronickel	milled	Maltese galley	Value	1972	1986
	25 cents	28 mm	Brass	plain	Coat of arms of Malta	Value	1975	1994
	50 cents	32 mm	Cupronickel	plain	Great Siege Monument	Value	1972	1994

Second series (1986–2007)

A new series was issued on 19 May 1986, which consisted of 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 cents and 1 lira, all depicting local flora and fauna on the obverse and the republican coat of arms on the reverse. The 1 lira coin was introduced in this series, replacing a former banknote.^[1] In 1988 a new coat of arms was adopted showing a heraldic representation of the Maltese flag, a mural crown and a wreath of olive and palm trees. The coin series of 1991 depicted the new coat of arms, but the reverse side remained the same.

• 

  1986

• 

  1991-2007

This series remained in use until 2007, being withdrawn in January 2008 upon the introduction of the Euro. They were demonetised in 2010.

Second Series
Image	Value	€ equiv.	Technical parameters			Description			Date of
			Diameter	Mass	Composition	Edge	Obverse	Reverse	first minting	withdrawal	lapse
	1 cent	0.02 cent	18.51 mm	2.81 g	Copper, zinc, a slight percentage of nickel	Plain	Coat of arms	Ballottra (weasel)	1986 1991	31 January 2008[2]	1 February 2010[2]
	2 cents	0.04 cent	17.78 mm	2.26 g	Cupronickel	Milled	Coat of arms	Zebbuga (olive tree)	1986 1991	31 January 2008[2]	1 February 2010[2]
	5 cents	0.12 cent	19.78 mm	3.51 g				il-Qabru (Maltese freshwater crab)
	10 cents	0.23 cent	21.78 mm	5.01 g				Lampuki (dolphin fish)
	25 cents	0.58 cent	24.95 mm	6.19 g		Incused beading		Ghirlanda (evergreen rose)
	50 cents	1.16	27 mm	8 g		Lettered		Tulliera (Maltese Fleabane), an evergreen plant that grows in the Mediterranean region
	Lm1	2.33	29.82 mm	13 g	Nickel			Merrill (Blue Rock Thrush), the national bird
For table standards, see the coin specification table.

References

1. The Coinage of Malta - The Central Bank of Malta
2. European Central Bank. "The euro cash changeover in Malta". Retrieved 2008-01-15.