New consignment of Xprunara gold coins

Members of the public will this week have the opportunity to meet Joseph Muscat, MQR, designer of the commemorative gold coin with the maritime theme Xprunara, at the Central Bank.

Last week, the Central Bank announced the arrival of another consignment of these gold commemorative coins. The first consignment was sold out within days of its launch. The new consignment is expected to satisfy existing demand and pending orders.

Members of the public who have not yet taken delivery of the coins they have ordered can collect them from the Central Bank.

Mr Muscat MQR, author of the xprunara design shown on the coin, will be present at the bank on Thursday and Friday between 11 a.m. and noon to meet members of the public interested in obtaining further information on the xprunara and on maritime design.

Holders of the coin may also have their certificate of authenticity autographed by the designer.

Born at Rabat in 1934, Mr Muscat was educated at the Lyceum and St Michael's Training College for Teachers.

He is an active member of the Society of Christian Doctrine (MUSEUM), the Malta Historical Society, the Foundation for the Study of the Naval and Military History of the SMOM, Malta, Friends of the Maritime Museum, the Society for Nautical Research, England, Naval Dockyards Society, England, and the Association des Amis du Musée de la Marine, Paris.

In 1988 he was appointed secretary to the provisional committee of the Maritime Museum and assisted in the setting up of the Museum. He has a lifelong interest in the maritime history of Malta, with particular emphasis on the navy of the Order and the development of traditional Maltese ship and boat technology and iconography.

Besides carrying out extensive archival research he studied other related subjects, such as ship graffiti and votive paintings. He had produced numerous publications besides being a ship-model maker and restorer of old ship models.

Visitors to the Central Bank will also have the opportunity to view the bank's Currency Museum, which displays all the commemorative coins the bank has issued to date, as well as a model of the xprunara, which has kindly been made available by the Maritime Museum.

The Xprunara pure gold coin is legal tender for Lm10 and is available for sale from the Central Bank, Castille Place, Valletta, at Lm13 (including VAT).

Further information may be obtained directly from the Central Bank or by phoning on 2124-7480, or else by visiting the Bank's Website (currency section) www.centralbankmalta.com.