1 Crown - Elizabeth II 1994

Weight

28.28 g

Diameter

38.6 mm

Thickness

3 mm

Material

Copper-nickel

Shape

Round

Edge Type

Reeded

Technique

Milled

Front design

Right facing uncouped bust of Queen Elizabeth II, wearing the George IV State Diadem, legend and date around

Back design

Ships arriving in Malta with anti-aircraft gun in foreground

Year of Minting

1994

Queen

Elizabeth II (1952-2022)

Mint location

(PM) Pobjoy Mint , Surrey, United Kingdom (1965-2023)

Mint mark

NA

Orientation

Medal alignment ↑↑

Inscriptions

Obverse: ELIZABETH II GIBRALTAR · 1994 RDM PM Reverse: WORLD WAR II MALTESE CONVOY 1 CROWN

Context

The battle for control of the Mediter ranean lasted three long years and the key to success was to be found on the island of Malta. Set half way between Alexandria and Gibraltar, Malta was the logical staging point from which convoys could support the ground- forces fighting in North Africa and Italy with supplies. And it was an ideal base from which escort cruisers pro- vided protection to the imperial trade arteries to India, the far East and the increasingly important oil wealth of the Middle East. In early 1942, the Axis forces turned their attention away from the Russian front to Malta and the combined forces of the Luftwaffe and the Italian air and naval forces set about to pulverise the island and starve civilian population with a siege which lasted until well into Summer. When the siege was eventually lifted, the island was awarded the George Cross for the part it played in the most critical periods of the war.

Rarity

Ultra rare

Coin type

Non-circulating

In circulation

Yes

Demonetized

No

Marketplace listings

0