Hundreds of people queued outside the Central Bank this morning, but there was nothing to worry about.

They were there simply to buy the first in a series of €2 commemorative coins which highlight milestones in Malta’s constitutional history.

The theme for this first coin is ‘First Elected Representatives – 1849’. In that year the Maltese Islands had their first effective experience of political representation, through a process of democratic elections. On the 11 May 1849, Great Britain, by Letters of Patent, granted Malta a Constitution creating a Council of Government empowered to promulgate “laws for the peace, order and good government” of the country.

The coin was designed by Ġanni Bonnici and shows a hand placing a vote in a ballot box symbolising the process of democratic elections.

This coin went for sale today in circulation quality rolls of 25 coins each  at the price of €57.75 per roll.

A limited amount of the coin in Proof quality was also for sale at €8 per coin.