Malta struck these specimen pieces in 2003–2004 as part of its pre-accession euro coinage program, produced before the country formally joined the European Union in May 2004. They carried no legal tender status and could not circulate — they existed solely to satisfy numismatic demand and to document Malta's preparation for currency changeover, which would not actually occur until January 2008.
Malta struck these specimen pieces in 2003–2004 as part of its pre-accession euro coinage program, produced before the country formally joined the European Union in May 2004. They carried no legal tender status and could not circulate — they existed solely to satisfy numismatic demand and to document Malta's preparation for currency changeover, which would not actually occur until January 2008.