Back in 1956 Malta was still a British possession with a certain degree of self-government. Malta comprises three inhabited islands (Malta, Gozo and Comino) and today the independent republic has a population of 519,000 most of whom are Roman Catholic. Most speak Maltese but English is also commonly used.
A brief history of Malta should be useful in understanding this set. The island has a very long history with the Romans arriving in 218 BC. Byzantine rule was introduced in 533 AD and they were followed by Arabs in 870. In 1091 the Normans occupied the islands which later had strong ties with Spain and Italy. In 1530 Malta was handed over to the Order of St. John. The British entered the scene in 1800.
¼ penny or one farthing
The Monument of the Great Siege of 1565 is shown on the one-farthing value. This sculpture by Antonio Sciortino was inaugurated on 8 May 1927. It features three bronze figures representing Faith, Fortitude and Civilisation. It is located in Valletta, the Maltese capital.
The monument was erected in memory of the Great Siege of
