The first retailer kits containing Maltese euro coins become available on December 1, but the Governor of the Central Bank cautioned this morning that such coins will not be legal tender before January 1, 2008. It will therefore be illegal for the coins to be used prior to that date in any transactions carried out in Malta or abroad.
The Governor, Michael Bonello, said at a press conference that strong interest was being shown by collectors in Malta and abroad to the Maltese euro coin sets. There are three sets:
- The retailer kit containing Maltese euro coins for a value of €131, which can be obtained from banks as from December 1, 2007 at the cost of Lm56.24;
- The mini kit intended for the public consisting of Maltese euro coins for a value of €11.65, which can be obtained from banks as from December 10 at the cost of Lm5;
- And the official set Maltese euro coins for collectors, which will be available for sale as from December 1,
2007 from the Central Bank of Malta at Lm15.03 or €35.
Mr Bonello spoke on the initiatives taken by the Bank with regard to the information campaign on euro banknotes and coins. He said that a series of TV advertisements will be aired soon in order to inform the public on how to recognise genuine euro currency notes and coins.