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A 2 euro commemorative coin of the Republic of Malta, issued in 2018 in a circulation of 350,000 copies. The third in the series "Maltese Prehistoric Temples". It was minted at the Paris Mint. Bimetallic, diameter 25.75 mm, weight 8.5 g.
Obverse
The center of the coin depicts an architectural fragment of the Mnajdra Temple - a characteristic entrance made of megalithic slabs, an apsidal structure with decorative stone. At the top, along the arc, is the inscription "Templi tal-Mnajdra" (Temples of Mnajdra). Below is the name of the issuing country "MALTA" and the year "2018". On the outer ring are the 12 five-pointed stars of the EU.
Reverse
The reverse is the common side of the 2 euro coins of the second type, designed by Luc Luix (Royal Belgian Mint). It depicts a map of Europe as a single continent without internal borders - a symbol of European unity. On the left - a large denomination "2" and the inscription "EURO", on the right - a map with six thin horizontal lines in the background. On the outer ring - 12 stars of the European Union. The band - with thin grooves, with a Maltese cross and the inscription "★ 2 ★".
Historical context
Mnajdra is a megalithic temple complex on the southern coast of Malta, near the Hajar Kim temples. It consists of three temples built during different phases of the Maltese Neolithic: the Southern Temple (3150-2500 BC), the Middle Temple (3000-2500 BC) and the Small Southern Temple (3600-3200 BC). All of them are located around an oval square, facing the Mediterranean Sea. The most outstanding feature of the Southern Temple is its astronomical orientation: during the spring and autumn equinoxes (March and September), the first rays of the sun pass through the main portal and illuminate the central axis of the temple, while during the summer and winter solstices, they illuminate the side slabs. This indicates the extraordinary accuracy of the ancient builders in observing the sky. Among the finds are spiral carved blocks, altars. Mnajdra was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992. In 2009, a protective tent was built over the complex.