New national side of euro coins intended for circulation

(2016/C 396/03)

Euro coins intended for circulation have legal tender status throughout the euro area. For the purpose of informing the public and all parties who handle the coins, the Commission publishes a description of the designs of all new coins (1). In accordance with the Council conclusions of 10 February 2009 (2), euro-area Member States and countries that have concluded a monetary agreement with the European Union providing for the issuing of euro coins are allowed to issue commemorative euro coins intended for circulation, provided that certain conditions are met, particularly that only the 2-euro denomination is used. These coins have the same technical characteristics as other 2-euro coins, but their national face features a commemorative design that is highly symbolic in national or European terms.

Issuing country : Malta

Subject of commemoration : The role of the Malta Community Chest Fund in Society

Description of the design : This coin is envisaged to commemorate the role of the Malta Community Chest Fund in Society through a programme for secondary school students entitled ‘From Children in Solidarity’. This programme identifies the social role of children in five different areas with the first theme being ‘Solidarity through Love’. This design was created by Ms Sarah Cilia a secondary school student who has expressed this theme through two hands forming a heart shape which displays a representation of the Maltese flag. At the bottom of the design is the inscription ‘MALTA 2016’. Two stylised representations of human bodies are designed on the left wrist and two on the right one.

The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Number of coins to be issued :

Date of issue : November 2016

(1)  See OJ C 373, 28.12.2001, p. 1 for the national faces of all the coins issued in 2002.

(2)  See the conclusions of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council of 10 February 2009 and the Commission Recommendation of 19 December 2008 on common guidelines for the national sides and the issuance of euro coins intended for circulation (OJ L 9, 14.1.2009, p. 52).