Central Bank of Malta Currency Museum

Tucked into the lobby of the Central Bank of Malta in Valletta, this compact museum traces the full monetary history of the Maltese Islands across more than 2,500 years of changing rulers. Highlights include Phoenician and Roman coins, a rare Arab dirham bearing the name 'Malta' — considered a one-of-a-kind artefact among numismatists — and the coinage of the Knights of St John, who ruled the islands from 1530 to 1798. The collection continues through the British colonial period and ends with Malta's pre-euro lira sets, giving the display a satisfying arc from ancient trade routes to European monetary union. Entry is free, the labels are clear if sparse on narrative context, and the building itself is an imposing example of institutional architecture in the heart of UNESCO-listed Valletta.