Malta Banknotes 5 Maltese Lira banknote 1979
Central Bank of Malta - Bank Ċentrali ta’ Malta
Obverse: Statue of "Culture", symbolizes the rich culture of Malta. Map of Malta is on top left. Coat of Arms of Malta from 1975 to 1988 is in top right corner. On the right side are seven vertical lines for the visually impaired. Denominations in numerals are in all corners. In center in words.
Reverse: Aerial view of Marsa industrial Estate. On the left side is The Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius) is Malta's national bird. In top right corner is the Central Bank of Malta Logo. Denominations in numerals are in top left and top right corners, also lower. Lower, more to the left side, in words.
Watermark: Allegorical Head of Malta - Melita.
Signature: Lino Spiteri (Deputy Governor).
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company Limited, London England.
Date of Issue: 30 March 1979.
Dimensions: 144 x 75 mm.
Malta banknotes - Malta paper money
In March1979, the Central Bank of Malta embarked on its third series of currency issue, keeping the same £m1, £m5, and £m10 denominations as in the previous 1973 and 1975 issues. This issue, which commemorated Malta’s new status of neutrality and the termination of military facilities for foreign powers in 1979, included the new circular emblem of Malta, which had replaced the armorial bearings in 1975.The £m1 note, in brown and grey, had a map of the Maltese Islands and an inscription GĦALL ĠID TAL-MALTIN ĠIEĦ IR-REPUBBLIKA, but the most prominent feature on this note was the gardjola. The £m5 note had various shades of violet portraying a statue symbolizing culture by Antonio Sciortino. The £m10 note was grey and pink and showed a statue symbolizing justice.
In 1981, the Bank withdrew from circulation the £5 note issued in 1968 and the £1 note issued in 1969 while the green £m1 note of 1973 was called in 1982, followed by the £m5 note, which stopped being legal tender in 1983.
In 1982, the Central Bank of Malta issued currency notes with special features to help the blind distinguish authenticity and one denomination from another. The £m10 note had three 5mm dots embossed above the emblem of the Republic of Malta on the obverse, the £m5 note had two dots while the £m1 had one dot.
1 Maltese Lira 5 Maltese Lira 10 Maltese Lira
Marsa industrial Estate
In the inner part of the Grand Harbour there are the well-protected creeks of Marsa, an important place since olden times. In the map of Malta that Jean Quentin published in 1536, there is indicated the place Marsa Hortus. Since the oldest times, the place was known as Il-Marsa, an Arabic word that means a port where ships anchor themselves. The creek was also known as Taz-Zewg Marsiet, one with the name Marsa z-Zghira, and the other with the name Marsa l-Kbira. The former was also known as Xatt il-Qwabar, which started near Bridge Wharf up to where the Gas Works were built. Qwabar is the plural of the world qabru, which is an amphibious organism like the crab, and sometimes the Qabru was called a freshwater crab. It might have been common in this area. We also find snails having the shape of a heart, with a black shell, which used to be found in the creek and was called arzell tal-Marsa. In the inner part there is the Marsa l-Kbira, which ends up near the church of Cejlu. It had also become known as Portu Novu. The two creeks are separated from the Gholja tal-Gizwiti, behind which there is the large plain land that goes up to the outskirts of Hal Qormi. Here, one can notice the low level of the land and valleys, one called Wied is-Sewda, and the other Wied il-Kbir, which both end there.
Besides Marsa there are four other places in our country whose name consists of the word Marsa joined to another word. These are Marsamxett, Marsaxlokk, Marsascala, and Marsalforn. Each have something to do with the sea, and all make part of a harbour, if they themselves are not harbours. Il-Marsa was so known as doubtlessly it controlled the inner important port. The megalithic remains in Kordin and close by areas, as well as other Phoenician and Roman remains on the Gholja tal-Gizwiti indicate clearly that the harbour was regarded as an important necessity by these people.
With the opening of the Suez Canal, Malta was given an importance greater than it had. Therefore this required a larger seaport, and this was to be built on the Marsa side. In 1800 the Government had already shown interest as a seaport could be built there so as to serve as shelter to ships during storms. During the time of Governor Le Marchant (1859), the project wa taen seriously and it was estimated at a price of 250,000 pounds. Work started in 1861. So as to make way, all plains, pools and marshes had to be removed. Many worked on this for six years. While working on the land, they discovered many ancient objects, amongst them marble columns, statues and pottery jars. Stone baths which were also used for fish were found. Remains of a large building in the beginning of Kordin hill was excavated. When the Portu Novu was completed, a dock basin having an area of 38,000 square yards was added to the main construction having an area of 170,000 square yards. The work for this new construction, which was under the control of contractors, was designed by architects Andrews and Galizia.
The Admiralty paid its share of 187,110 pounds, and the Maltese Treasury paid 73,610 pounds, besides several other expenses that it made. The Government Council, had to pay another 660 pounds for the work on the port, lamps, and gas. The Portu Novu had a customs house and stores that costed 7,312 pounds. In the area in which the lawyer Guzeppi Zammit had built the Madonna tal-Grazzja church, some businessmen had constructed their own storehouses, factories, or homes. Some merchandise tents and coal magazines were also built. The seaport consists of high quays and wharfs. Later on a metal bridge was constructed, and this went to the path that led to the inlet. This was constructed under the direction of engineer Fredrick Jones.
Blue Rock Thrush
The blue rock thrush (Monticola solitarius) is a species of chat. This thrush-like Old World flycatcher was formerly placed in the family Turdidae.
This species breeds in southern Europe and northwest Africa, and from central Asia to northern China and Malaysia.
The European, north African and southeast Asian birds are mainly resident, apart from altitudinal movements. Other Asian populations are more migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa, India and southeast Asia. This bird is a very uncommon visitor to northern and western Europe.
Blue rock thrush breeds in open mountainous areas, usually higher than the breeding zone of the related common rock thrush. It nests in rock cavities and walls, and usually lays 3-5 eggs. An omnivore, the blue rock thrush eats a wide variety of insects and small reptiles in addition to berries and seeds.
This is a starling-sized bird, 21–23 cm in length with a long slim bill. The summer male is unmistakable, with all blue-grey plumage apart from its darker wings. Females and immatures are much less striking, with dark brown upperparts, and paler brown scaly underparts. Both sexes lack the reddish outer tail feathers of rock thrush.
The male blue rock thrush sings a clear, melodious call that is similar to, but louder than the call of the rock thrush.
The blue rock thrush is Malta's national bird and is shown on the Lm 1 coins that was part of the previous currency of the country.
In the inner part of the Grand Harbour there are the well-protected creeks of Marsa, an important place since olden times. In the map of Malta that Jean Quentin published in 1536, there is indicated the place Marsa Hortus. Since the oldest times, the place was known as Il-Marsa, an Arabic word that means a port where ships anchor themselves. The creek was also known as Taz-Zewg Marsiet, one with the name Marsa z-Zghira, and the other with the name Marsa l-Kbira. The former was also known as Xatt il-Qwabar, which started near Bridge Wharf up to where the Gas Works were built. Qwabar is the plural of the world qabru, which is an amphibious organism like the crab, and sometimes the Qabru was called a freshwater crab. It might have been common in this area. We also find snails having the shape of a heart, with a black shell, which used to be found in the creek and was called arzell tal-Marsa. In the inner part there is the Marsa l-Kbira, which ends up near the church of Cejlu. It had also become known as Portu Novu. The two creeks are separated from the Gholja tal-Gizwiti, behind which there is the large plain land that goes up to the outskirts of Hal Qormi. Here, one can notice the low level of the land and valleys, one called Wied is-Sewda, and the other Wied il-Kbir, which both end there.
Besides Marsa there are four other places in our country whose name consists of the word Marsa joined to another word. These are Marsamxett, Marsaxlokk, Marsascala, and Marsalforn. Each have something to do with the sea, and all make part of a harbour, if they themselves are not harbours. Il-Marsa was so known as doubtlessly it controlled the inner important port. The megalithic remains in Kordin and close by areas, as well as other Phoenician and Roman remains on the Gholja tal-Gizwiti indicate clearly that the harbour was regarded as an important necessity by these people.
With the opening of the Suez Canal, Malta was given an importance greater than it had. Therefore this required a larger seaport, and this was to be built on the Marsa side. In 1800 the Government had already shown interest as a seaport could be built there so as to serve as shelter to ships during storms. During the time of Governor Le Marchant (1859), the project wa taen seriously and it was estimated at a price of 250,000 pounds. Work started in 1861. So as to make way, all plains, pools and marshes had to be removed. Many worked on this for six years. While working on the land, they discovered many ancient objects, amongst them marble columns, statues and pottery jars. Stone baths which were also used for fish were found. Remains of a large building in the beginning of Kordin hill was excavated. When the Portu Novu was completed, a dock basin having an area of 38,000 square yards was added to the main construction having an area of 170,000 square yards. The work for this new construction, which was under the control of contractors, was designed by architects Andrews and Galizia.
The Admiralty paid its share of 187,110 pounds, and the Maltese Treasury paid 73,610 pounds, besides several other expenses that it made. The Government Council, had to pay another 660 pounds for the work on the port, lamps, and gas. The Portu Novu had a customs house and stores that costed 7,312 pounds. In the area in which the lawyer Guzeppi Zammit had built the Madonna tal-Grazzja church, some businessmen had constructed their own storehouses, factories, or homes. Some merchandise tents and coal magazines were also built. The seaport consists of high quays and wharfs. Later on a metal bridge was constructed, and this went to the path that led to the inlet. This was constructed under the direction of engineer Fredrick Jones.
Blue Rock Thrush
The blue rock thrush (Monticola solitarius) is a species of chat. This thrush-like Old World flycatcher was formerly placed in the family Turdidae.
This species breeds in southern Europe and northwest Africa, and from central Asia to northern China and Malaysia.
The European, north African and southeast Asian birds are mainly resident, apart from altitudinal movements. Other Asian populations are more migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa, India and southeast Asia. This bird is a very uncommon visitor to northern and western Europe.
Blue rock thrush breeds in open mountainous areas, usually higher than the breeding zone of the related common rock thrush. It nests in rock cavities and walls, and usually lays 3-5 eggs. An omnivore, the blue rock thrush eats a wide variety of insects and small reptiles in addition to berries and seeds.
This is a starling-sized bird, 21–23 cm in length with a long slim bill. The summer male is unmistakable, with all blue-grey plumage apart from its darker wings. Females and immatures are much less striking, with dark brown upperparts, and paler brown scaly underparts. Both sexes lack the reddish outer tail feathers of rock thrush.
The male blue rock thrush sings a clear, melodious call that is similar to, but louder than the call of the rock thrush.
The blue rock thrush is Malta's national bird and is shown on the Lm 1 coins that was part of the previous currency of the country.