Malta 1965 zecchino
This specimen was lot 3224 in Steve Album Auction 51 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2025), where it sold for $168. The catalog description[1] noted, "SOVEREIGN MILITARY ORDER OF MALTA: Order of St. John of Jerusalem, AR zecchino, 1965, 400th Anniversary of the Great Siege, reported mintage of only 3 pieces in .925 silver! PCGS graded Proof 67 DCAM, RRR." The Order of Malta, originally crusading knights, ruled the island from 1566 to 1798, when they were evicted by Napoleon. After various vicissitudes, they ended up in Rome in 1834, where they remain, administering various charities. After the island of Malta obtained her independence in 1964, the Order resumed issuing coins but has never been invited back to the island. The Order lacks sovereign status and its issues are classed as fantasies but are still collected nonetheless. This NCLT was struck at the Franklin Mint in Pennsylvania.
Recorded mintage: 3,315.
Specifications: 23.1 g, silver plated nickel silver, 38 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Bruce-X404d.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Unusual World Coins, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 51, featuring the Howard Daniel III Collection of Asian Coins, the Almer H. Orr III Collection of World Coins and the Joe Sedillot Collection of German Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2024.
Links:
- Order of Malta 1965 5 scudi
- Order of Malta 1965 10 scudi
- Coins and currency dated 1965