25 Liri Accession to the European Union

Malta joined the EU on 1 May 2004 alongside nine other nations in the bloc's largest single enlargement. The accession was not without domestic controversy — a 2003 referendum passed with only 53.6% in favor, the narrowest margin of any acceding state that year. This coin was issued the same year membership took effect, before Malta had adopted the euro, making it one of the last commemorative gold issues the Central Bank would authorize denominated in liri.