Malta

Commemorative coin

2021

Maltese prehistoric temples of Tarxien

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

Official Journal of the European Union

The design depicts a detail of the prehistoric structure. At the top is the inscription ‘TARXIEN TEMPLES 3600-2500 BC’. At the bottom is the name of the issuing country ‘MALTA’ and underneath it is the year of issuance ‘2021’. The coin’s outer ring depicts the 12 stars of the European flag.

Additional information

In 1914, a farmer in Tarxien discovered large limestone blocks while ploughing. Due to the discovery of the nearby hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni, which became known in 1902, he suspected they might have archaeological significance and informed the director of the national museum, Themistocles Zammit. He immediately began excavations, which by 1920 had uncovered four distinct, interconnected temples dating between 3600 and 2500 BC, the final phase of the Neolithic period. The discovery of the temple complex contributed to the development of Malta's national identity and confirmed the existence of an ancient culture on the Maltese islands. In 1992, the Tarxien Temples were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Megalithic Temples of Malta. The coin shows the central temple built between 2900 and 2500 BC. Below it is the altar - presumably used for animal sacrifices - of the Western Temple built around 3000 BC, which is now kept in the National Archaeological Museum of Malta in Valletta. Spirals are depicted as an ornament on it.

Edge lettering

Designer