The island nation of Malta has had a colorful past. Occupied by many peoples throughout history, it was not until the Napoleonic Wars that Malta sought protection as a British crown colony, maintaining that status until independence in 1964. During World War II Malta, due to its strategic location at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, became the most heavily bombed area of the war. Overcoming overwhelming odds, Malta survived on extraordinary heroism and sheer willpower.

Malta's bank notes are equally colorful, being created to meet the needs of early commerce, and later, to cope with emergencies brought about by World Wars I and II. Post World War II produced Malta's first permanent "Government of Malta" currency. With independence, these issues became obsolete when notes of the Central Bank of Malta were issued.