|
 In
2001, the
Central Bank of Malta has issued a Silver Proof coin (2001)
to honour the life of Enrico Mizzi, whose popularity and personality
left an indelible mark on Maltese politics in the first half
of the twentieth century.
The coat of arms of the Republic of Malta and the year of issue
2001 are shown on the obverse of the coin. The reverse shows
the name and portrait of Enrico Mizzi, with the dates of his
birth and death (1885-1950) above, and the legend "Prim
Ministru 1950" (Prime Minister 1950) at the bottom right
of the coin.
Born on 20 September 1885 Enrico Mizzi, or as he was popularly
and affectionately called, Nerik Mizzi, was the son of another
politician and patriot, Fortunato Mizzi. Nurtured in a political
environment from an early age and having obtained a degree in
law in 1912, he devoted himself to politics and in 1915 was
elected, as a candidate for Gozo, to the Council of Government.
Throughout his life Enrico Mizzi was actively involved in advocating
a national Maltese identity. His outspokenness and sincerity
in the cause of nationalism, though never disloyal, conflicted
with British interests and in 1917, during the First World War,
he was court-martialled under wartime defence regulations.
From 1919 to 1932 he worked tirelessly to further the nationalist
movement. When Malta was granted self-government in 1921, Mizzi
formed the “Partito Democratico Nazionalista” and
was elected to the Legislative Assembly. In 1924 he became Minister
of Agriculture and Posts and in 1932 was appointed Minister
of Industry and Commerce and subsequently Minister of Education.
His patriotic beliefs were once again to cause some concern
to the British Government during the Second World War and in
1942 he was interned and deported to Uganda, where he remained
for the duration of the war. As a result Enrico Mizzi was unable
to take his seat in the then Council of Government.
On his return from exile, and with self-government having been
restored in 1947, Enrico Mizzi wholeheartedly fought to regain
his political status. His humble sense of dedication, his honesty
and his political integrity were finally acknowledged in September
1950 by his election to the high office of Prime Minister, a
post he was to hold for just three short months until his death
in December that same year.
The Silver Proof coin was legal
tender in Malta from 20 September 2001 until 31 January 2008
for the value of Lm5.
The coin design is the work of the Maltese artist Noel Galea
Bason and was struck at the Royal Mint, United Kingdom with
the following specifications:
| Type |
Denomination |
Diameter
(mm) |
Gross
Weight (g) |
Finesse |
Mintage |
| Silver
Proof |
Lm5 |
38.61 |
28.28 |
0.925 |
2,000 |
Malti |
