Malta, and the Mint of Poland celebrates some of Europe’s iconic city clockfaces, with seven silver coins, starting in the Czech capital, Prague

The Mint of Poland’s latest series of silver coins, is to be themed around showcasing some of the iconic city hall clock faces from around Europe, and will consist of seven, one-ounce coins. Unusually for this producer, the coins are issued for the Mediterranean island of Malta, and that nation’s emblem, featuring two knights flanking the Maltese flag on a shield, under a mural crown, adorns the common obverse.

Each coin will feature a coloured reproduction of a city hall clock face, and Europe is awash for some striking examples of these significant architectural highlights. How significant? The clock face in the Elizabeth Tower of the British Houses of Parliament, is, in itself, a symbol of the United Kingdom, and recognisable almost everywhere on the planet. Some of the others are considerably more intricate, marvels of horology, and the first of them, the Astronomical Clock Orlaj, on Prague’s Old Town Hall, is a perfect example.

The first mention of this clock dates to 1410, and it has constantly evolved over the last 600+ years. Mounted on the southern wall of the Old Town Hall, it was originally created by horologist Mikuláš of Kadaň and Charles University professor of mathematics and astronomy Jan Šindel. It’s been repaired and modified many times over the centuries, culminating in a full restoration in 2018.

The clock is an incredible piece of engineering, functioning as a complex mechanical astrolabe, providing various celestial and time-related readings. It displays the relative positions of the Sun and Moon, including their phases, as they move through the Zodiac constellations. The dial incorporates a background representing the Earth and sky, indicating daytime (blue), twilight (red), and nighttime (black).

It simultaneously shows different time systems: Old Czech time (where 24:00 marks sunset, varying throughout the year), German time (standard 24-hour time), and Babylonian time (unequal hours based on daylight). The golden Sun icon and a half-silver, half-black Moon sphere move across this background and through the zodiacal ring, illustrating their celestial paths and the current lunar phase. A small golden star indicates sidereal time. This intricate arrangement allows the clock to serve as a functional model of the medieval geocentric view of the universe. On top of that, it’s an incredibly beautiful piece of engineering excellence.

The coin is a relatively straightforward 2D realisation of the Orlaj, replete with matching gilding and colouration, but it does a great job of encapsulating the design. This is the first coin, but you can see the upcoming six others below, giving you some idea of the sheer variety and inventiveness of these often, centuries old marvels. Boxed, with a COA, just 700 will be minted, and it’s available to order.