Maltese Maritime History Coin Collection (1984 - 1986)

Malta's maritime history is rich in its traditions which go back many years. To preserve for posterity these maritime traditions, the Central Bank of Malta issued three sets of four coins featuring Maltese merchantmen. The complete series of twelve coins was intended to highlight the major changes in Maltese shipping from the second decade of the 19th century to the present day with representative types of ships owned by Maltese merchants from the glorious age of sail down to steamships and the diesel powered vessel. It is worth noting that most if not all the sailing ships built during the nineteenth century were designed by local naval architects and built in Maltese shipyards. The first fifty years of the 19th century were indeed golden years for Maltese shipping and maritime trade. Maltese sailing ships, sturdy barks, fast brigs and trim schooners of all shapes and sizes traded wherever cargo could be lifted, to all the leading Mediterranean trade centres. Many specialised in the Black Sea grain trade while others maintained a regular fast service from North European ports to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Some also ventured to the Americas. The Maritime History Issue consisted of twelve coins, which were issued over a period of three years, four coins each from 1984 to 1986. The designs span 170 years of local shipping history from the 'Strangier' of 1813 down to the Sea Malta vessel 'Dwejra II' still in service. Mr Noel Galea Bason was entrusted with producing all the designs of this series. 'WIGNACOURT' A Bark completed in 1844 and owned by Giuseppe Garcin, Antonio Borg and Salvatore Isouard, Valletta Merchants. It was mainly employed in the UK Mediterranean and Black Sea routes and considered one of the fastest Maltese ships of the time with many fast trips from Costantinople. Gross tonnage 436 tons. 'TIGRE' This Barquentine was also owned by the Tagliaferro family and was completed in 1839. It had a gross tonnage of 274 tons and was employed on the various trade routes of the Tagliaferro fleet. It was one of the largest vessels of her type in the Maltese Merchant fleet. 'STRANGIER' A 263 gross ton full rigged ship built in 1813 and owned by John R Stuart, a Valletta merchant and shipowner, later sold to Biagio Tagliaferro the father of the Maltese Merchant fleet. It was mainly employed on service between the United Kingdom and the Mediterranean, and occasionally to the Black Sea. 'PROVIDENZA' A 235 gross ton Brig and representative of a large class of this type of vessel built by Maltese shipyards for local and foreign owners. It was built in 1825 to the order of B. Tagliaferro and employed on his Black Sea grain trade.

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