Melita (personification)

Melita depicted on a £1 stamp designed by EdwardCaruana Dingli issued on 28 August 1922

Melita is the personification of Malta or the Maltese people. The name originated from the Roman town of that name which was destroyed and rebuilt several times by the Fatamids, Normans and Knights of Saint John and eventually renamed Mdina or Città Notabile.

The personification of Melita first appeared on 4 February 1899 on a postage stamp. Since then, Melita has been portrayed several times on both postage stamps, revenue stamps and banknotes of Malta.

The design currently in use was designed by Edward Caruana Dingli in 1922, which was featured on a set of postage stamps commemorating Malta's self-government. The design shows Melita wearing a garment over a breastplate showing the Maltese Cross, a helmet and sandals. She is holding a rudder representing the Maltese in control of Malta's destiny.

Stamps

The figure of Melita has been portrayed several times on Maltese stamps, such as:

• 4 February 1899 - 2s6d olive grey (watermark Crown CC)
• 1902 - 2s on 2s6d orange (watermark Crown CC) - unissued stamp overprinted 2/- REVENUE
• 1902 - 2s6d olive grey (watermark Crown CC) - 1899 stamp overprinted REVENUE
• 1908 - as previous two stamps but watermark Crown CA
• 1919 to 1920 - 2s6d olive green to olive grey (watermark Crown CA)
• 12 January 1922 - 2s6d olive grey overprinted SELF-GOVERNMENT
• 1922 to 1926 - set of 20 stamps featuring two different portraits of Melita
• 3 December 1925 - 3d of previous set surcharged 2½d
• 1 April 1926 - 1922-1926 stamps overprinted POSTAGE
• 7 January 1965 - 2s6d from the definitive set showing Melita seated
• 2 December 2011 - €4.16 miniature sheet showing the £1 Melita from the 1922 set

Banknotes

The last banknotes issued by the Central Bank of Malta, which were issued between 1989 and 2000 and valid until 2008, featured Melita from the design by Edward Caruana Dingli made for the 1922 stamp set.