Maltese Cross

The circulation coin bears the arms of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, which ruled the island from 1530 to 1798. During that period the eight-pointed cross became associated with Malta, and is known as the "Maltese Cross" to this day. The country name Malta identifies the issuing state.

The eight-pointed Maltese Cross originates with the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, founded originally as a hospitaller order caring for the sick and pilgrims in the Holy Land. Its eight points traditionally represent the eight virtues or beatitudes the order's knights were expected to embody. Although the order was forced to leave Malta in 1798, the cross has remained inseparably linked with the island ever since, appearing on numerous state and ecclesiastical symbols.