2012 Malta Jean De La Valette Bronze Medal 

In official packaging

Jean de La Valette born in 1494 has joined the Order of St. John of Jerusalem when he was 20. He was a Knight of the "Langue" of Provence. On 21 August 1557 he was proclaimed The Grand Master. And in 8 years span on 18 May 1565, Piali' Pasha with his 138 galleys carrying a landing force of 40,000 have attacked the coasts of Malta. This was the starting point of the heroic resistance of the Island known now as the Great Siege of 1565. The resistance of the Knights of St. John and Malta people lasted almost four months, allowing to get reinforcement from Sicily to arrive. And on 8 September, the defeated Turkish armada left Maltese shores. The popular and courageous Grand Master died on 21 August 1568. He was buried in the church of Our Lady of Victories, the oldest building in the City of Valletta. This is the place where the foundation stone of Malta's capital city, had been laid in 1566 by the Grand Master himself.

Struck by: Royal Belgian Mint

Mintage: 10,000

Designer: Luc Luycx

Value: n/a

Quality: Proof 

Obverse: The heroic Grand Master of Valletta - Jean Parisot de La Valette (1494-1568)

Reverse: The St. John's Cathedral, Malta

Composition: Bronze

Weight: 21.8g

Diameter: 37.25mm