Copper nickel proof, mintage 6,884

The obverse features a three-masted galley of the 18th century—the ceremonial barge of Grand Master Emmanuel de Rohan de Polduc (1775-1797). It was the last barge of a Grand Master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem on Malta prior to the expulsion of the knights by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798. Part of the first series of circulation coins issued after Malta attained independence. It symbolizes the renewal of indigenous coinage. Under British rule (1800-1964) Malta used the regular homeland coins of Great Britain. The British coins were demonetized in 1972 after issue of this series.