Malta Republican medal, Malta (Independence? Merit?)

[taras]

I've never seen this medal before.

Obverse:

https://www.militaria-agent.com/catalog/MALTA_MERIT_MEDAL_1975_WITH_REPUBBLIKA_TA_MALTA_ON_FRONTSIDE_AND_GHALL_QADI_TAR_REPUBBLIKA_ON_BACKSIDE_ENAMELED_AND_GUIDED.html

[taras]

Reverse:

[Megan]

This is the Midalja għall-Qlubija (Medal for Service to the Republic) awarded for outstanding contributions to the country. I've found the law instituting it 17 October 1975, but the darn thing doesn't say what it should look like!

Malta became an independent member of the Commonwealth on 13 December 1974, but didn't get around to commemorative coins until 1975 - possibly because it took them to 11 July 1975 to devise a new coat of arms! This is the 'boat and sun' design on the obverse of this medal, they stuck with this until 1988 when the current arms were adopted.

Edited June 2, 2013 by Megan

[James Hoard]

Malta became an independent member of the Commonwealth on 21st September 1964. >