Malta 1 lira 1986 - Blue Rock Thrush

The coin's story

In 1986, Malta replaced the 1972 series of coins with a new series. The obverse bears the arms adopted by the Republic in 1975: a coastal scene with the rising sun, a luzzu, the traditional Maltese fishing boat, a shovel, a pitchfork and a prickly pear. Around it, the legend REPUBBLIKA TA' MALTA gives the name of the country in Maltese. The reverse of the 1 lira coin, the highest value of the series, shows the blue rock thrush, the national bird of Malta, perched on a rock with prey in its beak. Both sides were engraved by the Maltese Noel Galea Bason, and the edge bears the name of the Central Bank of Malta. Struck in nickel by the Royal Mint, this 1986 coin had a mintage of 2,272,000, plus 10,000 proofs.