The Maltese Lira
THE MALTESE LIRA On 16 May 1972, the Central Bank of Malta issued the first series of decimal coinage based on the Maltese Lira, at the time being roughly equivalent to the British Pound. Each Lira was divided in 100 cents (abbreviation of centesimo, meaning 1/100), while each cent was subdivided in 10 mills (abbreviation of millesimo, meaning 1/1000). The mills coins of the 1972 series - withdrawn from circulation in 1994 9 COINS AND 3 BANKNOTES Initially, a total of 8 coins were issued, namely the 50 cent, 10 cent, 5 cent, 2 cent, 1 cent, 5 mill, 3 mill and 2 mill. These coins were complemented by the issue of three banknotes, namely the 1 Lira, 5 Lira and 10 Lira, on 15 January 1973. Furthermore, a 25 cent coin was introduced in June 1975 to commemorate Malta becoming a Republic within the Commonwealth of Nation on 13 December 1974. This was the first coin to feature the coat of arms of the Republic of Malta on the reverse. NEW SERIES The obverse of the 1986/1991 series - withdrawn from circulation in January 2008 A new series was issued on 19 May 1986. This comprised 7 coins, namely the 1 Lira, 50 cent, 25 cent, 10 cent, 5 cent, 2 cent and 1 cent. Each coin depicted local fauna and flora on the The banknotes of the 1989 series - withdrawn from circulation in January 2008 obverse and the emblem of the Republic on the reverse. No mills were struck as part of this series, though the 5 mil, 3 mil and 2 mil coins issued in 1972 continued to have legal tender.
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