Christ on a coin

I do not find it easy to understand and justify all that fuss against the image of Christ appearing on a coin. Somebody goes as far as to take it as an indication of Malta "still living in the Dark Ages"!

Incidentally I happen to have a set of coins issued by the Vatican in 1972, at the time of Pope Paul VI. On one coin we have the lamb symbolising Christ. On another the pelican feeding its young from parts of its breast, again symbolising Christ who redeemed humanity by His sacrifice. On a third, a coin of 10 lire, there is the fish, which is the solemn hieroglyphic name of Our Lord in connection with the Greek "icus" (remember the familiar figure of the fish in the catacombs?). On a fourth, for 500 lire, there are the symbols of the Eucharist - wheat and grapes.

Again incidentally, I happen to have pictures of coins issued by the Order of St John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, in 2004. Two of them, golden coins for five scudi and 10 scudi, respectively depict St John giving the standard to the Grand Master and the altar of the Church of Santa Maria on Rome's Aventive Hill.

And I am sure one could quote many such examples! Are we to say all those responsible for this coinage are people "still living in the Dark Ages" or that their ideas are "insults" to Christ and holy figures?