9 April 2007 Rating 44% No Comment  

363,000 euro coin starter kits have been ordered by the Central Bank to ensure small change will be available when Gozo and Malta switch to the euro. A spokesman for the National Euro Changeover Committee said 330,000 starter kits for the public and 33,000 for retailers have been ordered from France's Monnaie de Paris, which won the tender for the minting of the Maltese euro coins. The Lm5 kit for the public will contain �11.65 worth of coins in different denominations whilst the Lm56.24 kit for businesses will have �131 worth of coins. If Malta meets its target to join the euro by January 1st, the starter kits will become available at banks from December 17th. The eight new euro coins have three different designs on one side, the Maltese cross on the �1 and �2 coins, the Maltese emblem on the 10, 20 and 50 euro cent coins and the Mnajdra temple altar on the 1, 2 and 5 euro cent coins. The other side of the coins is common to all countries and shows the extended map of the EU, including the new member states.