Bank of Valletta has purchased rare coins of the Knights of the Order of St John which were on sale at an auction in London.

The coins are an outstanding example of fine 16th, 17th and 18th century coins that will enhance the local numismatic collection, the bank said. The coins will initially be on display at BOV’s head office in Santa Venera and will then be displayed at the BOV Museum at St John’s Square where they can be admired by the public.

Heritage Malta was informed by UK auctioneers about the coins and informed BOV which acted immediately to purchase the coins and have them brought back to Malta.

“Bank of Valletta believes that through the acquisition of these coins it is giving back to society something that is truly significant to the people of these islands. These coins have more than just historical importance for us, they also have significant value as they form part of our common heritage,” Bank of Valletta CEO Tonio Depasquale said.

The Knights of St. John settled in Malta when Charles V of Spain granted the humble islands of Malta to the Knights following their expulsion from the island of Rhodes. The order, which settled in Malta in 1530, would find its fortune in these islands as the Maltese people would prove to be an exceptional asset in warding off their long feared enemies, the Ottomans.

The collection consists of eight coins that are all categorized as very rare or extremely rare; one coin is in fact categorized as the only dated silver coin of its type. Decorated with various symbols of religious and military importance for the knights, the coins are ideal examples of fine craftsmanship.