We are pleased to announce that the Central Bank of Malta has just released the 2 Euro Commemorative Coin dedicated to our endemic Maltese Honey Bee! The Foundation is delighted to see its long-suggested theme of a commemorative coin honouring our local honey bee finally become a reality. Around eighty-five thousand coins have been minted, with many of them presented in coin cards featuring photos of the Maltese Honey Bee.
| Issue Date | 26th August 2024 |
| Quality | Brilliant Uncirculated |
| Mint | Royal Dutch Mint |
| Minting Limit | 85,500 |
| Designers | Maria Anna Frisone & Luc Luycx |
| Engraver | Maria Anna Frisone |
The unique characteristics of the Maltese Honey Bee are under threat from foreign honey bee breeds being imported into our country. Since honey bees mate with little distinction between subspecies, this leads to genetic mixing (hybridisation) of the Maltese Honey Bee, which had been isolated for thousands of years. As a result, the Maltese Honey Bee is gradually losing its distinctive traits. This continued hybridisation will lead to extinction due to subsequent challenges in adapting to local habitats and climate. Conserving the local bee population is both important and essential. The Maltese subspecies holds intrinsic value due to its endemic nature and must be preserved for sustainable beekeeping in the future.
The Maltese Honey Bee is also currently being considered for classification as the National Insect of Malta, an initiative led by the KNM Foundation. Learn more about this initiative by watching a video directed by the Foundation, titled “Unique Insect: The Maltese Honey Bee.”
To stay up to date with the Foundation’s work, we warmly invite you to join our WhatsApp community. The smooth functioning of our organisation relies on financial resources, and your support is essential. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a real difference in advancing our mission. You can help by joining the Foundation’s cause, become a supporter for just €10 a year or make a donation here: Support the Foundation.
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