1141)"Suez Canal": Central Bank of Malta issues a 150th Anniversary Silver Commemorative Coin of 10 Euros (1869-2019), minted by the Royal Dutch Mint: Coin issue Date: 18.11.2019:

1141)"Suez Canal": Central Bank of Malta issues a 150th Anniversary Silver Commemorative Coin of 10 Euros (1869-2019), minted by the Royal Dutch Mint: Coin issue Date: 18.11.2019:

The Central Bank of Malta has issued a Silver Commemorative Collector's coin of 10 Euros denomination, which commemorates the 150th Anniversary of the inauguration/opening of the Suez Canal on 17.11.1869, after a prolonged period of gestation and many vicissitudes. 

The opening of the Suez Canal had a profound effect on Malta's economy. It dramatically shortened the trade routes between Europe and Asia, as a result, Malta became an important way-point on the new  water-way linking Britain with the East. The increase in maritime traffic fuelled the demand for coal bunkering and ship-related services and Malta too benefitted from the increased spending on naval and military infrastructure.

The Reverse of the Silver 10 Euro Coin placed against a background of an artist's concept of a convoy of ships/vessels sailing through the Suez Canal

A brief about the Suez Canal:

The Suez Canal is a sea-level water-way in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez.

Constructed by the Suez Canal Company between 1869 and 1869, it was officially opened on 17.11.1869. The canal offers watercraft a more direct route between the North Atlantic and Northern Indian Oceans via the Mediterranean and Red Seas, thus avoiding the South Atlantic and Southern Indian Oceans and reducing the travel distance from the Arabian Sea to say London, for example by 8,900 kilometres or 5,500 miles (approx.).

It extends from the Northern terminus of Port said to the Southern terminus of Port Tewfik, at the city of Suez. The length of the Suez Canal is about 193.30 kilometres (or 120.11 miles), including its Northern and Southern access channels. Over 40-50 vessels traversed the canal every day by 2012.

The original canal featured a single-lane waterway with passing locations in the Ballah Bypass and the Great Bitter Lake. It contains no lock system, with sea-water flowing freely through it.

Britain and France owned the canal until 07/1956, when Egypt nationalised the canal, which led to the Suez Crisis of 10-11/1956.

The canal is presently owned by the Suez Canal Authority of Egypt.

In 08/2014, the Egyptian government began construction to expand and widen the Ballah Bypass for 35 kilometres (or 22.0 miles) to speed up the Canal's transit time. 

The expansion was intended to double the capacity of the Suez Canal to about 100 vessels per day. The expansion was called the "New Suez Canal" and the new waterway was opened on 06.08.2015.

On 24.02.2016, the Suez Canal authority officially opened the new side channel. This side channel is located at the Northern side of the East extension of the Suez Canal and serves the East Terminal for berthing and unberthing of vessels from the terminal.

The Commemorative Coin:

The Reverse of the Silver 10 Euro Commemorative Coin shows steamships transiting the Suez Canal.

The inscriptions read - "THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SUEZ CANAL" (on the lower periphery) and "1869-2019" (on the upper periphery).

To the centre right is the denomination of the coin "10 EURO".

The Obverse of the Silver 10 Euro Commemorative Coin shows the Coat-of-Arms of the Republic of Malta.

The inscriptions are - "MALTA" and "2019".

The specifications of this Silver Coin are:

Denomination: 10 Euro; Metallic Composition: .925 Silver (Ag); Diameter/Size: 38.61 mm; Weight: 28.28 grams; Coin Quality: Proof; Country of Issue: Republic of Malta; Minted by: Royal Dutch Mint; On behalf of: Central Bank of Malta; Mintage: 2,000 pieces; Designers: (Reverse) Matyas Houf, (Obverse) Noel Galea Bason; Year of Issue: 2019; Issue date: 18.11.2019.

For posts on Central Bank of Malta issues, please visit the following links:

1) Baptism of Christ: "Europa Coin Programme": Baroque & Rococo periods: Guiseppe Mazzuli's famed statue depicted on Central Bank of Malta Gold and Silver coins issued on 14.03.2018

2) Central Bank of Malta celebrates its 50th Anniversary (Golden Jubilee) milestone: A new 10 Euro Silver Crown Coin and a Gold Proof 100 Euro coin issued on 17.04.2018

3) Valletta, Malta - "European Capital of Culture - 2018": A 10 Euro Silver Coin and a Silver Foil replica of a 26c Stamp brought out by Central Bank of Malta 

4) Ggantija Temples, Malta: "Maltese Pre-historic Temples Coin Series": (Part I): First coin in the Series issued in 2016

5) Hagar Qim Temples: Maltese Pre-historic Temples Coin Series": (Part II): Second Coin in the series issued on 27.06.2017

6) Mnajdra Temples: "Maltese Pre-historic Temples Coin Series": (Part III): Third Coin in the Series issued on 21.06.2018

7) Malta: Renaissance Era Ship design depicting the Order od St. John's "Gran Carracca Sant' Anna" features of the latest Europa Silver Star Programme issue from the Central Bank of Malta: Coin issue date: 15.03.2019

8) Ta' Hagrat Temples, Malta: "Maltese Pre-historic Temples Coin Series" depicting UNESCO World Heritage List featured Mealithic Temple Complexes in Malta: Fourth Coin in the Series: Date of issue: 22.07.2019

9) "Suez Canal": Central Bank of Malta issues a 150th Anniversary Silver commemorative Coin of 10 Euros (1869-2019), minted by the Royal Dutch Mint: Coin issue date: 18.11.2019