100th Anniversary of the First Performance of the 'Innu Malti'
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2022
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100th Anniversary of the First Performance of the 'Innu Malti'
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On 6 December 2022, the Central Bank of Malta issued two numismatic coins in gold and silver commemorating the 'Centenary of the First Performance of the Innu Malti'.
The 'Innu Malti', Malta's national anthem, came into being shortly after that Malta, then a British colony, was granted a measure of self-government in 1921. As a work, the 'Innu Malti' combines the verses written by Dun Karm Psaila and the music of Robert Samut. However, it has always been more associated with Dun Karm than with Samut's music.
In 1947, Dun Karm Psaila narrated the story of how he came to write the words of the 'Innu Malti'. He recalled that once, Dr Albert V. Laferla, the Director of Elementary Schools, showed him a music score and asked him to write verses to accompany it. The aim being that it would be sung by children attending Government schools. Laferla informed Dun Karm that the music was written by Prof. Robert Samut, a well-known and respected medical doctor.
The 'Innu Malti' was first performed in public on 27 December 1922 during a concert held by the Elementary School Teachers' Dramatic Club at the Manoel Theatre. The audience received it with great enthusiasm. It became very popular with the Maltese and, in 1941 it was given official status by the local authorities. However, as Malta was a British colony, the 'Innu Malti' could not be referred to as the Maltese National Anthem, but as the 'Hymn of Malta'.
It was only when Malta attained independence, in 1964, that the 'Innu Malti' was formally recognised as the National Anthem of Malta and was formally inscribed as such in the Maltese Constitution which states that the National Anthem of Malta is "L-Innu Malti" opening with the words "Lil din l-Art ħelwa l-Omm li tatna isimha".
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Type
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Denomination
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Diameter (mm)
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Gross Weight (g)
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Finesse
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Designer
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Mint
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Mintage
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Silver Proof
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€10
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38.61
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28.28
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0.925
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Noel Galea Bason
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Royal Dutch Mint
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1,500
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Gold Proof
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€100
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38.61
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31.10
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0.999
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Noel Galea Bason
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Royal Dutch Mint
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112
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