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The two commemorative 2 euro coins for Malta 2024 have just been issued. One is dedicated to the “Malta Bee” and the other is the inauguration of a new series called “Walled Cities of Malta”, with the first piece dedicated to the “Goz Citadel”. Let’s find out about the coins and the theme to which they are dedicated.
The honey bee (Apis mellifera) is indigenous to Malta, as it is not found exclusively in Malta. Meanwhile, the subspecies of the Maltese honey bee (Apis mellifera ruttneri) is found exclusively in Malta, making it endemic to the Maltese archipelago.
The Maltese honey bee is being compromised by imported foreign honey bee species, as genetic mixing (hybridisation) of the Maltese honey bee, which had been isolated for thousands of years, is taking place.
As a result, the Maltese honeybee is indirectly facing extinction, gradually losing its distinctive 'Maltese' features due to this admixture and the resulting challenges of adapting to local habitats and climate.
The concept of evolutionary survival of the fittest is significantly altered to the detriment of the subspecies, which is part of Maltese natural heritage and the local beekeeping sector. When a species evolves into a subspecies, biodiversity increases, potentially marking the first step in the creation of a new species. Key to this mixing process lies in the importation of foreign bees, which poses a serious risk of extinction for this endemic subspecies. Furthermore, in the context of climate change, protecting local subspecies is crucial. The possibility of a harsher climate in the near future underlines the importance of conserving the endemic subspecies.
Conserving the local bee population is both advantageous and crucial. The Maltese subspecies has intrinsic value due to its endemic nature and, for sustainable beekeeping in the future, it is necessary to preserve it.
The design of the national side of the coin was created by Maria Anna Frisone and depicts the Maltese honey bee (Apis Mellifera Ruttneri), one of the endemic species of flora and fauna found on the Maltese islands.
The design features a representation of a bee with a flower and a honeycomb filling the background. The coin raises awareness about one of Malta’s endemic species and graphically represents the work of the bee, which pollinates flowers and produces honey.
On the left side is the name of the issuing country, “MALTA”, while on the right side is the year of issue, “2024”.
The twelve stars of the European flag appear on the coin's circular crown.
The emission volume of this coin is 80,000 units, all presented in coincards, as you can see in the image at the beginning.
The high point of the Turkish raids on Gozo came in 1551. An Ottoman naval force, after an unsuccessful attack on Malta, turned its attention to less-defended Gozo. After a brief siege, the Citadel's crumbling medieval walls were razed and the defenders begged for an honourable surrender. Tragically for the population (then around 5,000), the terms of surrender were far from honourable. With the exception of 40 elderly and disabled people, the entire population of Gozo was chained and enslaved. It took almost 50 years to repopulate the island and rebuild the Citadel in its present configuration.
The design for the national side of the coin was created by Noel Galea Bason and depicts the walled city known locally as “Iċ-Ċittadella” (The Citadel) on the island of Gozo, which is the second largest in the Maltese archipelago. In their present form, the fortifications surrounding the “Ċittadella” were built and modified by the Order of St. John.
The design depicts the city with its fortified walls. The name of the issuing country, “MALTA”, is displayed on the bottom left, and the year of issue, “2024”, is displayed on the bottom right. The inscription “ĊITTADELLA” is displayed on the top, and “GOZO” is displayed below.
This coin is part of a series dedicated to Maltese walled cities, such as Medina and Valletta, which are an intrinsic part of Maltese and European cultural heritage.
The twelve stars of the European flag appear on the coin's circular crown.
The minted volume of this coin is 90,000 units, 80,000 in coincards like the ones in the image above, and 10,000 in a euroset dedicated to the same theme, together with the eight regular circulation coins with a minting date of 2024.
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