If you’ve spotted people getting excited about a “fenek coin” lately, you’re not imagining things. The Central Bank of Malta has kicked off a seriously packed 2026 coin release programme, and one in particular has collectors talking. Here’s what’s actually being issued this year, and where the fenek fits in.

First, a quick clarification on the “fenek” coin. Fenek means rabbit in Maltese, but the coin everyone’s referring to isn’t a rabbit at all. It’s Il-Kelb tal-Fenek, literally “the rabbit dog,” which is the traditional Maltese name for the Pharaoh Hound, Malta’s national dog, historically bred and used for hunting rabbits across the islands. So the coin celebrates the dog, not the animal it was named after. Easy mix-up, but worth knowing before you go hunting for a coin with a bunny on it!

Two circulating-style €2 commemoratives are on the 2026 programme, both minted at the Royal Dutch Mint with a run of 30,000 pieces each, designed by Noel Galea Bason together with Luc Luycx. Il-Kelb tal-Fenek was issued in February 2026 to celebrate the Pharaoh Hound. Maltese Walled Cities, Valletta was also issued that same month, part of an ongoing series spotlighting Malta’s fortified cities. Both are available as a Brilliant Uncirculated coin card for €20, and a Dated Set 2026, including the Valletta €2 coin, is also on offer for €30, with a limited edition of 5,000 pieces.

Aside from the everyday-style €2 coins, the Bank’s 2026 lineup includes several proof silver and gold releases aimed squarely at serious collectors.

The Maltese Walled Cities: Valletta coin also has a silver proof version, with a €10 face value, a diameter of 38.61mm, and a weight of 31.10g in 0.999 fine silver, limited to just 400 pieces and issued in March 2026.

The coin marking the anniversary of the birth of Edward Caruana Dingli, celebrating 150 years since the Maltese artist’s birth, was issued in May 2026 in both silver, with a €10 face value and a mintage of 400, and gold, with a €100 face value, a 33mm diameter, and mintage still to be announced.

Warships of the Order of St. John, the first in a planned two-coin series, is a silver proof coin with a €10 face value, limited to 600 pieces, issued in July 2026.

All of these are priced on request through the Malta Coin Centre, the Bank’s official retail arm, with a 5% discount available when bought as part of a package.

The Central Bank of Malta doesn’t sell these coins directly to the public. Everything goes through the Malta Coin Centre, which does run its own shop, both online at maltacoincentre.com and in person at the MCC counter in Valletta. 

Payment methods include credit card, PayPal, Apcopay and SEPA transfers online, or cash and debit card in person. Worth noting that the Bank reserves the right to limit allocations and adjust issue dates, so if a particular release has caught your eye, it’s best not to wait too long before ordering.

Even if you’re not chasing a full collector’s set, Malta’s commemorative coins tend to double as a kind of cultural shorthand: walled cities, national symbols, historic figures, and now the Pharaoh Hound all get their moment stamped in silver, gold, or everyday circulation metal.

The €2 Kelb tal-Fenek coin is worth keeping an eye out for in your change this year. It’s one of the few pieces from this programme you might actually find without going through the Coin Centre at all.

To get your hands on the coins, take a look here!