Malta

Commemorative coin

2018

Temples of Mnajdra

(Part of the National series " Maltese prehistoric sites ")

Official Journal of the European Union

The design features the Maltese prehistoric temples of Mnajdra, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Mnajdra is a prehistoric site consisting of three temples nestled around an oval forecourt. It is situated on the Southern coast of Malta, some 500 meters away from Hagar Qim. Mnajdra is best known for its astronomical alignments and the South temple seems to have been constructed to mark the sunrise on the equinox and the solstice. The Oldest parts of this complex date around 3 600-3 200 BC. At the top right of the design there are the inscriptions ‘MNAJDRA’, ‘TEMPLES’ and the years ‘3 600-2 500 BC’, one underneath the other. At the bottom left there is the name of the issuing country ‘MALTA’ and underneath there is the year of issuance ‘2018’. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

The coin is dedicated to the prehistoric temple complex of Mnajdra, south of Qrendi, created between 3600 and 2500 BC. Thousands of years ago this was the only flat coastal strip on the southwest coast of Malta due to the low water level. The bays provided moorings for water vehicles and allowed the ascent to the temple terrace. The coin depicts the eastern facade of the southern temple of Mnajdras, which was built between 3000 and 2500 BC and is known for its astronomical orientation. In 1992, Mnajdra, together with other Bronze Age temples in Malta, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as 'the Megalithic Temples of Malta'.

Edge lettering

Designer