Mementoes of canonisation

Silver and gold commemorative mementoes bearing the image of Blessed Gorg Preca have been issued to mark his canonisation as Malta's first saint.

Lombard Bank is issuing 2,000 ingots, each weighing 100 grammes of pure 999 silver with the portrait of Dun Gorg on one side and the certification on the other.

Edward Pirotta, Lombard's head of premises and services, said at a press conference that three gold ingots weighing 100 grammes will also be launched.

One of these ingots will be presented to Pope Benedict XVI, one will go into the bank's private collection, and the other will be donated to the Malta Community Chest Fund to be auctioned.

Maltapost chief executive Joe Gafà said that for the first time, Maltapost had issued a silver replica stamp bearing the image of Dun Gorg with the chapel of the Society of Christian Doctrine, MUSEUM in Blata l-Bajda as a backdrop.

The silver stamp issue is a limited edition of 2,000 and comes in a presentation box with a certificate of authenticity.

Another three ingots will be released in gold - one will be presented to the Pope, Maltapost will keep one and donate the other to Dar tal-Providenza to be auctioned to raise funds for the home.

Maltapost has also issued a two-stamp set, showing identical images as those on the silver stamp.

Meanwhile, the Society of Christian Doctrine will be issuing 2,000 silver medals to commemorate the canonisation of its founder. Over 1,100 have already been booked. Forms to book this medal are available from Preca Library in Hamrun.

The commemorative pieces are available from the respective organisations.