Posted on 02/02/2006 7:35:21 PM PST by LouAvul
VALLETTA (AFP) - Malta has chosen the figure of Christ for its euro coins, officials announced, after a vote which reflected the overwhelmingly Roman Catholic island's strong Christian heritage.
The voters in a telephone poll to decide the design chose "The Baptism of Christ," a scupture by late baroque artist Giuseppe Mazzuoli which stands in the capital's St John's Cathedral.
Some denominations of the euro will feature Malta's coat of arms and the Mediterranean island's prehistoric Mnajdra temple.
"Almost 17,000 people felt they should participate in the decision making process of choosing the face of our new currency," said finance minstry official Tonino Fenech after the results of the 10-day telephone poll was announced.
Malta's 400,000 population had been presented with a shortlist of images by a committee set up by the finance ministry.
"The Baptism of Christ" topped the poll with 3,498 votes, said Fenech.
Fenech said however that another popular choice not on the original shortlist, the eight-pointed Maltese Cross, may yet feature on coins.
A 1914 $500 bill was before the ACLU was even a dream, and I don't believe $500 bills were used in broad circulation.
Quite a different thing to be on COMMON currency, in this case everyday pocket change.
Oh, I bet if they figured out it was stil in existence, they would sue to have it deemed not currency
God Bless Malta...time for a vacation there...
Gaurantee the hypocrites at the ACLU never turned away any payments/donations, whatever, of cash that said "in God we trust" on it.
Yeah, I can just see it now...old ladies kissing the image on Christ on the coin, doing the sign of the Cross...and then putting the coin into a slot machine and pulling the hammer. UGH.
So what do they export that I can buy?
I gotta say I haven't a clue!
My entire family is from Malta, I'm first generation American. I've been there a couple of times and it is absolutely awesome. I can't wait to get back there (maybe next year).
I wonder how one might go about getting such coins?
Bookmark Bump
BTTT
http://www.emmsaid.com/malta_decimal_sets.htm
Not that expensive, either - especially if you'r a fan of either coins or Christian iconography.
Thanx.
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