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5 Euros Smallest Gold Coin in the World - The Zecchino
| Issuer | Central Bank of Malta |
|---|---|
| Year | 2014 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 5 Euros |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The reverse reproduces the design of a historical Zecchino gold coin issued under Philippe Villiers de l'Isle-Adam, the Grand Master of the Order of St. John who first ruled over Malta following the Order's arrival in 1530. The design features the iconographic elements characteristic of the Zecchino coinage of the Knights of Malta, rendered in fine detail within the small format of the coin's field. |
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| Additional information |
The Zecchino was Venice's principal gold trade coin from the late 13th century onward, struck to such consistent fineness that merchants across the Mediterranean accepted it without weighing or assaying. Malta's connection to the type runs through the Knights of St. John, who issued their own Zecchini during their tenure on the island from 1530 to 1798. This 2014 issue from the Central Bank of Malta revives that name rather than that of any specific historical Maltese Zecchino type.
At 0.5 grams, the piece was marketed as the world's smallest gold coin — a claim that invites scrutiny, as several other mints have issued comparable or smaller fractional gold pieces around the same period.