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 emblem appeared on the obverse side, and the 25c coin was the first coin to depict the new republican emblem.

First series
Image	Value	Technical parameters				Description			Issued from	Withdrawn
		Diameter (mm)	Mass (g)	Composition		Edge	Obverse	Reverse
	2 mils	20.30 (scalloped)	0.95		Aluminium	Smooth	Maltese cross	Value	1972	1986
	3 mils	23.25 (scalloped)	1.45				A bee on a honeycomb			1986
	5 mils	26.00 (scalloped)	2.41				A lampstand			1986
	1 cent	25.90	7.13		Bronze		George Cross		1972–1982	1986
	2 cent	17.75	2.23		Cupronickel	Reeded	Penthesilea			2008
	5 cent	23.60	5.65				Megalithic altar		1972–1977	1986
	10 cents	28.50	11.37				Maltese galley		1972	1986
	25 cents	30.00 (octagonal)	10.00		Brass	Smooth	Emblem of Malta		1975	1994
	50 cents	32.95 (decagonal)	13.60		Cupronickel		Great Siege Monument		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 emblem 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This series remained in use until 2007, being withdrawn in January 2008 upon the introduction of the Euro.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Image	Value	Technical parameters				Description			Issued from	Withdrawn	Lapse
		Diameter (mm)	Mass (g)	Composition		Edge	Obverse	Reverse
	1 c	18.51	2.81		Nickel silver: Cu: 79% Zn: 20% Ni: 1%	Smooth	Coat of arms; year of issue	Ballottra (weasel)	1986 1991–2007	31 January 2008 [2]	1 February 2010 [2]
	2 c	17.78	2.26		Cupronickel: Cu: 75% Ni: 25%	Reeded		Zebbuga (olive tree)	1986 1991–2005
	5 c	19.78	3.51					il-Qabru (Maltese freshwater crab)
	10 c	21.78	5.01					Lampuki (Dolphin fish)
	25 c	24.95	6.19			Security		Ghirlanda (Evergreen rose)
	50 c	27.00	8.00			Lettering: BANK CENTRALI TA' MALTA •		Tulliera (Maltese fleabane)	1986 1991–2001
	Lm 1	29.82	13.00		Nickel			Merrill (Blue rock thrush)	1986 1991–2001
For table standards, see the coin specification table.

Museum Collections

Specimens of Maltese lira coins are preserved in several public collections in Malta. The Currency Museum at the Central Bank of Malta in Valletta exhibits a chronological overview of the islands’ monetary history, including coins and banknotes issued during the decimal period (1972–2007) when the Maltese lira was in circulation. ^[3]

The Numismatic Collection of the National Museum of Archaeology also contains examples of Maltese coinage, displayed alongside earlier and foreign issues in rotating exhibitions. ^[4]

References

• Malta portal
• Money portal
• Numismatics portal

1. The Coinage of Malta – The Central Bank of Malta Archived 2007-01-06 at the Wayback Machine
2. European Central Bank. "The euro cash changeover in Malta". Archived from the original on 2008-01-19. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
3. "Currency Museum". centralbankmalta.org. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
4. "Vast selection of coins and medals on display at the National Numismatic Exhibition accessible to the general public for the first time". heritagemalta.mt. Retrieved 26 August 2025.