Malta

Commemorative coin

2020

Pre-historic temples of Skorba

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

Official Journal of the European Union

The design features Skorba, a prehistoric temple located near the hamlet of Zebbiegh, in the northwest of Malta. The complex consists of two temples built side by side. These were built on a much older settlement remains of which were discovered outside the temple complex. Skorba lacks the monumentality of the other temples on the Maltese islands. Nevertheless, the site is of utmost importance having enabled archaeologists to set Malta’s prehistoric cultural sequence and establish that the islands were first inhabited at around 5 000 BC. The inscription ‘SKORBA TEMPLES 3600-2500 BC’ appears at the top of the design. At the bottom are the name of the issuing country ‘MALTA’ and the year of issuance ‘2020’. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

In addition to the south-eastern interior view of the Neolithic western temple of Skorba, built around 3600-3000 BC, the coin shows the female terracotta sculpture, similar to Cycladic idols, which was found during the excavations there in a deeper settlement layer and created around 4400-4100 BC. The temple complex at Mġarr, together with the temples of Ta' Ħaġrat only 1 km away, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992 as part of the Megalithic Temples of Malta.

Edge lettering

Designer