The Central Bank of Malta is issuing the fourth €2 commemorative coin under the From Children in Solidarity programme, which gave schoolchildren the chance to design a coin.

The theme of this year's winning coin design is Nature and environment, following on from coins illustrating Solidarity through love, Peace and Cultural heritage.

Joshua Stuart, a student of the Maria Regina College in Naxxar, opted for a simple stylised representation of the sun and a fruit tree. The coin has as its central theme the sun's benevolent action, which provides warmth and light, and enables trees and vegetation to grow and bear fruit. The coin was engraved by Noel Galea Bason.

These commemorative coins will be produced in circulation quality and will be issued in rolls of 25 coins each as well as in coin cards.

The number of coins that will be sold in rolls is limited to 300,000 while the number of coins in cards is limited to 20,000. The coins in the cards will bear a mint-mark of the Monnaie de Paris, where the coins were minted. The cost of a roll of 25 coins is €70, while that of a coin card is €7.

The From Children in Solidarity coin programme was officially launched in 2015 by the Central Bank of Malta, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation.

Profits from the sale of the coin cards will be channelled in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation. This year, €50,000 was presented to President George Vella, representing the profits from the coin released last year.

The coins may be purchased directly from the Malta Coins Centre's online e-shop on www.maltacoincentre.com. For further information, the public is kindly requested to contact the Malta Coins Centre via email on [email protected] or by calling on (+356) 2550 6006/7/8.