100th Anniversary End of World War I - Philatelic numismatic cover
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2018
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100th Anniversary End of World War I - Philatelic numismatic cover
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On 11 November 2018 MaltaPost, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Malta, will be issuing a philatelic numismatic cover consisting of a brass coin and a postage stamp to mark the centenary of the Armistice which brought the First World War to an end. On 11 November 1918 the allies and Germany signed an armistice which brought an end to the First World War. The war claimed the lives of more than 16 million persons and had a profound impact on the course of world history.
The brass coins which were designed by Noel Galea Bason were struck in circulation quality at the Royal Belgian Mint. The coin reverse features a nurse administering medication to a wounded soldier. This recalls the major humanitarian role played by Malta, called the 'Nurse of the Mediterranean', during the First World War. The figure of a soldier and a poppy, are evocative symbols of remembrance and pay tribute to the many servicemen, including some 600 Maltese, who fell during the conflict. During the war Malta had 27 hospitals and convalescent camps and more than 130,000 casualties were treated in Malta. The obverse shows the emblem of Malta.
The postage stamp depicts the hospital ship 'Rewa' in the Grand Harbour. This ship was sunk by a German submarine on 4 January 1918, whilst on transit from Malta to Britain. The coin and the stamp will be presented together in a purposely designed postal cover which will bear a special cancellation of the first day of issue. This product is limited to 2,500 covers.
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