Welcome to my Coins of Malta website. You can view my collections of coins of the Knights of Malta, minted in Malta between 1530 & 1798 and my collection of the Roman period coins when Malta and Gozo were called Melita and Gaulos.

In 2018 after 12 years research, I published my book "Coins Minted by the Knights in Malta" a comprehensive catalogue 1530 to 1798. 427 pages in full colour with over 2850 varieties which is twice the number listed in all previously catalogues.
Owners of my book can register on this site and obtain access to the 'Book owners' section of this website, where you will find a list of coins that I have found after I published my book. You will also have access to a continually updated online catalogue.   

Link to my book ‘’Coins Minted by the Knights in Malta’’

You will also find links to other items of interest including a brief history of each Grand Master, articles, list of books on the subject and other private collections.

Facebook followers click on this link to see the Malta Numismatic Society Facebook page dedicated to the coins of Malta
The Malta Numismatic Society has just been started. If interested in joining go toMNS.mtand join.

 

I hope you enjoy your visit.

DG2012-13 2

 

John Gatt 

 

 

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63 Comments

  1. Twanny Cassar on 16/10/2022 at 2:06 am

    Good afternoon Mr. Gatt,

    I am a coin collector and i always check all sorts of coins. Recently I received an email from V. Gadoury of Monaco from which I got a touch for your lost coin with references R51 & R52. The coin is very similar to your lost one of 1628 but I am in doubt because the date was not clear as yours. The first bid was for 1,000 euro, then price realised was for 1,400 euro and then a bid for 2,600 euro came out. The auction will be held next Saturday, 22nd. October and on Sunday, the 23rd. The lot number is 820.

    I am try to send you a copy of this coin but it seems to be not successful. Therefore I am going to forward to you the email which I received from Gadoury. From the email please search for Malta coins and the coin I am writing about is the first one in this section. I hope that this is of help to you and I wish you all success to find your lost coins.

    Regards.

    • jagatt@gmail.com on 16/10/2022 at 5:54 pm

      Thank you Twanny, but the coin in the Gadoury auction lot 820 is an undated De Vallate 4 Tari, whereas my lost coin is Dated 1628 and a Grand Master de Paul 4 Tari.
      Regards John Gatt

    • John Gatt on 27/09/2023 at 8:44 am

      G’day Twanny, regarding my lost coins that you posted me about, I would like to inform you that I recently found them after a Coin Auction House in Melbourne contacted me after they received an email asking them if they could sell these coins for them. The Auction House when they used my book to identify the coins saw the notes against the three coins that I had listed in my book with a note saying that these coins were lost or stolen during delivery. The coins are now safe in my collection.
      Regards
      John Gatt

  2. D. Jones on 02/01/2021 at 9:58 am

    Looking for your help and expertise. My 1752 grano has a clear P45 reverse, but the obverse doesn’t fit into anything I see on your site or on your very helpful member’s page at iinet.net.au

    Wondering whether you can help establish whether my eyesight stinks or whether it’s a different/new variety. It’s listed on eBay: item 124503862951 (Not trying to sell you on it–it’s just that’s where the pictures are; indeed, I’ve raised the price so no one will buy it until I hear from you.)

    ACQUISITION: As an adolescent (circa 1981-83), I “worked” for the grumpy ole proprietor of the closest coin shoppe. I rode my bike to his shoppe (in the next town over) where I “worked” at the lowly wage of 1/2¢ per Saturday. One day, he tossed me a bonus: A funny coin that he thought was maybe from Spain or Mexico but couldn’t be bothered to research (He knew I was in love with anything from the U.S. colonial period). It’s now sat in my “favorites” coin box for ~40 years. Sadly. my children never caught the numismatic bug, so I’m passing much of my holdings onto new (and, one hopes, better) stewards.

    Lots of coin stories from my teens: I “worked” at coin shows and auctions (including the first auctions of what is now MintProducts Auctions)–always paid in coin–and learned a lot from dealers and customers. Sad to see the industry in decline–with clubs crushed by COVID.

    In any case, thanks for the quick trip down memory lane.

    P.S.: I feel for you re:lost coins. My entire collection (fairly extensive, for a youth) was stolen while I was at college, with only part of it recovered by the police (including the grano). Collecting U.S. coins has never been the same for me…

    • Dai Jones on 02/01/2021 at 10:12 am

      I should also note that the “reverse” page for 1752 grano has gone missing: http://members.iinet.net.au/~jagatt/1Grano1752rev.html

      • jagatt@gmail.com on 02/01/2021 at 11:39 am

        All the iinet pages have been removed. I stopped using iinet over 5 years ago. All these pages are now only available via the ‘Book Owners” section on my website http://www.coinsofmalta.com

    • jagatt@gmail.com on 02/01/2021 at 11:34 am

      G’day D Jones,
      I cannot find your name listed in the book owner section and the iinet pages you mentioned have not been in use for over 5 years. I also tried to find the eBay: item 124503862951 but could not find it.
      The ‘Book Owners’ section of my website is only accessible if you have purchased my book and have registered. So please register and you will find all the up to date information on all the Knights of Malta coins.
      If you wish I’d be pleased to look at your 1752 Grano, so please send me the pictures off both sides to jagatt@gmail.com

      • Dai Jones on 02/01/2021 at 4:50 pm

        Thank you, sir!

  3. Sharri Neel on 16/10/2020 at 5:52 am

    I was curious if you had any knowledge of Grandmaster medals? Thank you, Sharri Neel

    • jagatt@gmail.com on 16/10/2020 at 6:37 am

      Sorry I have never collected Medals, but if you visit the Malta Numismatic Society’s website or Facebook site there are members that may be able to help you. Links to both sites are in my website.

  4. gordon on 16/11/2019 at 2:57 am

    hi John lewel net proset ta website vera sibta interesanti.. jek jogbok andi xi muniti antiki tkun tista tini xi informazjoni fuom pls

  5. David Mee on 19/09/2019 at 4:22 pm

    Hello John,

    I have just ordered your book paying with Paypal. I live in NSW, Australia. I am a member of the Australian Numismatic Society. I am looking forward to receiving a copy. Please sign it.
    I visited Malta for the first time last year and was very impressed by the courtesy of its people and the skill of Maltese bus drivers. I had visited Rhodes for a few days before I traveled to Malta. I have spent a life time collecting European Medieval Coins, typically finishing at the date 1500 AD. I now make an exception and am forming a small collection of the coins of the Knights of St John, because of their derivation from Crusading times. Having purchased each volume of the Cambridge project of Medieval European Coins, as they appear, I can appreciate what a labour of love you have achieved with your book.

    • jagatt@gmail.com on 19/09/2019 at 6:48 pm

      G’day David,
      Thank you I have just received your payment and will post the signed book tomorrow. You just got me in time as I’m off to London on Sunday to attend Coinex and visit coin dealers their. I will also visit the four museums that I visited during the 12 years researching my book (British, St Johns Ambulance, Fitzwilliam Cambridge and Ashmolean Oxford) I will be thanking them and give them a copy of my book) On the 3rd October we fly to Malta and on the same day we board a cruses ship for 7 day visiting Athens Crete and Rhodes. Then three weeks in Malta.
      Regards
      John Gatt

  6. Niccolino Rossi on 20/02/2019 at 7:19 pm

    Good morning,
    I am looking for a Luigino of Malta for my collection.
    To contact me: gloria.patrizi@fastwebnet.it
    Thank you

    • jagatt@gmail.com on 25/02/2019 at 5:12 am

      I do not know what a Luigino is?

      • Colin Formisa. on 25/02/2019 at 7:07 pm

        Luigino was the colloquial name for a 10 Scudi piece, named after the image of similar sized French gold coins of King Louis.

        • jagatt@gmail.com on 25/02/2019 at 7:45 pm

          Thanks Colin

        • Andrew Moore on 08/02/2021 at 4:33 am

          am hoping you may be able to advise me.

          I am researching the account book of an English Grand Tourist in 1716. He was in both Sicily and Malta.

          There are some references during his time in Palermo to the payment of ‘a fiilp’ to visit sites, which seems to have been worth 12 Taris and 7 grains. I have not found a description of this coin, and I am wondering if it could be a colloquial name (possibly derogatory?) in the name of Philip V of Spain – rather like the ‘Louigino’ in Malta, named after King Louis (XIV?).

          Do you know anything of the Sicilian fiilip – or indeed the Louigino?

          With all best wishes

          Andrew

  7. Giuliano Sidoli on 28/12/2018 at 9:55 pm

    Good morning, I have in my collection this coin: MALTA – Pietro del Monte, 1568-1572 Tari, if interested please contact me at this email: giulianosidoli@libero.it
    I will send you the photos, thank you and have a good day

  8. GORDON Spiteri on 21/05/2018 at 3:11 am

    Did you know something about Arab coins
    During there occupation the n malta???
    Because long time ago during en excavation in Valletta a very old part of it we had found a coin in very good condition af that era
    Which there is written
    Melita maret musa in arab language!!

    • jagatt@gmail.com on 28/05/2018 at 11:30 am

      Sorry I know very little about that time, There is a book called ‘Malta – The History of the Coinage’ by Emmanuel Azzopardi. This book list all the coins used in Malta, including the time of the Arab rule 870- 1090.

  9. Priebe on 09/04/2018 at 12:07 am

    Phantastic side and work. In case you will have finished your book on Maltese coins, please allow me to purchase two of them.

    Best,

    • jagatt@gmail.com on 09/04/2018 at 2:40 am

      I book is in its final stage of being proof read and having the cover and additional pages edited. I hope to have it printed later this year.
      Thank you for your interest
      Please send me your email address so I can contact you – jagatt@gmail.com
      Best regards
      John Gatt

    • jagatt@gmail.com on 24/11/2018 at 9:34 pm

      Hi Priebe,

      My book has been published, you can now purchase it via my website

      regards
      John Gatt

  10. Jens Mueller on 03/04/2018 at 1:56 am

    the gold and silver commemorative?

    • jagatt@gmail.com on 03/04/2018 at 9:24 pm

      I assume you are asking me the price of the gold and silver commemoratives? I am a collector and not a dealer, And I only collect Roman Maltese and the Knights of Malta coins. If you what their price I would suggest you go onto eBay and see what they are selling for.

      • Md Mostafa kamal on 04/10/2020 at 11:23 pm

        Hi good afternoon
        Im Mostafa kamal, I have a one cent coins symbol of dinosaur , it’s very old ,I think it’s very valuable coins. I would like to sell this coin.

        • jagatt@gmail.com on 05/10/2020 at 5:56 am

          Hi Mostafa, I do not know of any coin made by the Knights of Malta or buy Malta having a dinosaur. Please email me a photo to jagatt@gmail.com

  11. jagatt@gmail.com on 19/02/2018 at 11:14 am

    They are selling on Ebay between $25 – $40.

  12. steven on 11/06/2017 at 3:23 pm

    hi I’m a diver here in Malta and have found a few old coins and i am interested in finding out more about them. I’ve tried to research them but have had no luck. its down to personal interest rather than value as id like to know more about them etc. can you recommend any sources of info or maybe someone that could help please. I’m in the Buggiba area

    • jagatt@gmail.com on 11/06/2017 at 4:32 pm

      G’day Steve,
      I’d be happy to help you. Can you take photos of them using your smart phone? if so email the photos to jagatt@gmail.com and I will try to identify them for you.
      Regards John Gatt

  13. Richard Rude on 08/06/2017 at 2:13 pm

    I have sold a couple of Order of Malta coins to you. I would like to inform you of an auction–the Heritage Gallery Auction that is open now–that is listing the following: “Order of Malta. Group of silver coins from the Order of Malta including (4) 1 Scudo, and (4) 2 Scudi. (total 8 coins)” That is the only information. It is the Dallas HQ of Heritage that is doing the closed gallery auction. Their phone # is 1 800 872 6467. Their email is Bid@HA.com.

  14. jagatt@gmail.com on 01/01/2017 at 8:44 am

    Happy New Year Simon, Scudo is singular i.e. A Scudo or 1 Scudo. Scudi is plural i.e. 2 Scudi or 5 Scudi etc.
    So if both your coins have 2 S on them, they are both 2 Scudi coins.

  15. Giovanni Petroccione on 21/03/2016 at 5:28 am

    Dear Mr. Gatt,
    I wrote you in the past about a De Pins Gigliato in your collection. I’m interested in Grand Masters coins during the Rhodes period. My question is this. In your visits of world public collections of Knights of Malta coins you find also pieces of Rhodes? If yes where? Last. Perhaps you have photos or detailled list also for these coins? Thanks in advance for your kindly answer.
    Best Regards
    Giovanni Petroccione
    ITALY

    • jagatt@gmail.com on 21/03/2016 at 3:12 pm

      Dear Giovanni,
      Yes I have seen many Rhodes coins in many museums, but I have only taken Photo of the coins at the British Museum and the Ritterhaus in Bibikon (Zurich)

      • Giovanni Petroccione on 21/03/2016 at 7:09 pm

        Dear John,
        many thanks for your reply.
        Do you think possible send me the list of the museums with approximately the no. of pieces of Rhodes? (eg about 20 or 50 or 100 or more coins).
        About British Museum and Ritterhaus have you the possibility to send me by mail the photos of Rhodes coins? (this only for my personal archive).
        I’m waiting for your answer.
        Ciao
        Giovanni

        • jagatt@gmail.com on 24/03/2016 at 5:39 am

          Dear Giovanni,

          I am very busy working on the 6500 Knights of Malta coins I took photographs of during my revenant trip to Europe. If you can please contact me in 6 months time I may be able to help you. In the mean time I have given the British Museum all the photos I took of their collection including the coins from Rhodes. The museum should be putting these photos onto their web site soon.

  16. Colin Formosa on 10/01/2016 at 2:31 am

    Hi John.
    Where is the ‘National Museum’ collection in Malta displayed? No one at the Museum of Fine Arts (where I thought they would be) or at the Archeaology museum seem to know,
    Thanks,
    Colin.

    • jagatt@gmail.com on 10/01/2016 at 8:03 am

      G’day Colin,
      Unfortunately, the National collection is not displayed. A small part was recently displayed at the Grand Masters Palace during the Great Siege 1565 – 2015 Exhibition. That was where I was going when we meet in Valletta that morning. There are a few collections on display. the biggest is The Cathedral collection Mdina, followed by Central Bank’s collection then there are some smaller collection at – Palazzo Falson, St Agatha’s Museum and at the Zabbar Sanctuary Museum. I have photographs of the coins in all these museums and I will be sending the museums copies when I finish my work. Hopefully they will then put them on there web sites as the British museum is currently doing with the photos I took there last year.

      • Colin Formosa on 12/01/2016 at 8:21 pm

        Thanks.?

  17. Simon Bezzina on 05/01/2016 at 5:22 pm

    Dear mr gatt, may i ask if you have ever encountered any de rohan 30 tari forgeries? Thanks

    • jagatt@gmail.com on 07/01/2016 at 8:24 am

      ‘Hi Simon, No I have not seen any de Rohan 30 Tari forgeries.

      • simon on 15/01/2016 at 12:38 am

        Sent you a message with images on FB

    • jagatt@gmail.com on 07/01/2016 at 8:29 am

      I never accepted your facebook request because I saw it before I saw your post. if you wish request again and I will accept

  18. Richard Rude on 27/11/2015 at 2:13 pm

    I sold a Malta coin to you some time ago and you indicated you would want to know if I got more for sale. I have a 1790 30 tari coin graded by NGC as AU Details (mount removed). The mount removal was done very well. It is on my ebay web site if you want to look at it. I would want 200 or a bit less for it. Thank you for your interest, Richard Rude

    • jagatt@gmail.com on 27/11/2015 at 3:17 pm

      G’day Richard, thank you for advising me about your 1790 30T coin. I have already seen it, but I do have that variety already in my collection.
      Regards

      John Gatt

  19. MARIO CASINGENA on 19/08/2015 at 5:17 pm

    Thank you for your web site, it is surely interesting.
    I would like to know where the knights used to mint coins please.

    best regards

    Mario

    • jagatt@gmail.com on 19/08/2015 at 6:20 pm

      The original mint site is unknown, but was probably in Birgu at Fort St Angelo. After Valletta was built, it was moved to the Grand Masters Palace and then to St. Sebastian Street (also known as Old Mint street) and in 1778 was again moved to the Conservatoria, this is where the National Library now stands.
      The French continued minting Hompesch coins and silver and gold ingots until they ran out of supplies due to the Maltese blockade.
      All the minting machinery was sold by the British in 1828 for 100 pounds to a Greek merchant. This machinery was then used to mint the first Greek republic coins.

  20. Anthony Borg on 26/06/2015 at 1:50 am

    I am doing a small project for my place of work at Monte di Pieta. by publish a booklet (Free issue) of the history and i had to use same photo that one can find on the web- sites. Can I use your photos(coins)?
    a
    My email at work is anton.e.borg@gov.mt

    • jagatt@gmail.com on 26/06/2015 at 10:06 pm

      G’day Anthony,

      You are most welcome to use any of my images for your booklet. If you need better quality images please advise me of what you need and I will email them to you. I am coming to Malta this November to photograph coins at the National Museum and the cathedral museum so I would like to see the finished product if I can.
      Regards

      John Gatt

      • Colin Formosa on 07/07/2015 at 1:06 am

        Saint Agatha’s Catacombs museum also has some interesting coins, though many are in a bad state.
        Colin.

  21. Colin Formosa on 04/06/2015 at 5:36 am

    I have come across Pinto 10 Scudi in silver rather than gold. Are these modern fakes?

    • jagatt@gmail.com on 04/06/2015 at 6:11 am

      G’day Colin,
      Yes I have seen copy coins like that on ebay. If we meet in November I will tell you for sure if it is a copy

      • Colin Formosa on 04/06/2015 at 7:08 am

        Cheers.

      • Colin Formosa on 07/07/2015 at 1:03 am

        You are most welcome to visit when you’re in Malta. I have a small collection of about 100 coins of various denominations and Grandmasters if you wish to use for your research.
        Regards and congratulations on your interesting website and collection.
        Colin.

        • jagatt@gmail.com on 07/07/2015 at 8:28 am

          G’day Colin,
          It will be a pleasure to photograph your collection. Could you please send me a list of the coins in your collection? I can visit you at your home or you are most welcome to come to our rented apartment in Floriana. Could you also please email me at jagatt@gmail.com with your contact details including your phone number.

          Also thank you for your information about St. Agatha. I have been there in 2010 and photograph their 30 Tari coins and I intend visiting again to do the rest of their collection. I haven’t contacted them as yet and was wondering if you have a contact at the museum? as it seems I have lost the name of the contact I had.

  22. Christine Vella on 05/01/2015 at 11:41 pm

    Can please explain Rarity section: R1 to R4. RI, I assume is Rare 1 to Rare 4 but in which scale ie. Is Rare 1 the rarest or vice versa. And than you mark S, what does that mean, Similar, scarce, or what does it mean?

  23. Christine Vella on 05/01/2015 at 7:49 pm

    Congratulations on the beautiful collection and the very interesting site which you are sharing. Maybe you could please tell me which is the best way to store coins? I have tried plastic but it does not seem very practical, humidity seems to attach the coins, even though the plastic pockets which I purchased were specific for coins. I have tried tissue papers and it seems to work but not very practical. I am very interested to know your views if you care to let me know.
    regards

    • jagatt@gmail.com on 06/01/2015 at 8:01 am

      G’day Christine,
      Thank you for your comments about my collection.
      You asked about storing coins, I use capsules, they are air tight and come in a range of sizes to fit all coins. I buy them of the internet from a company in Germany, here is the link http://www.kosel.com/en/sh/lecaps.htm they cost Euro 3.50 to 4.50 per pack of 10 depending on the size. I buy about 20 different sizes to fit the various coin sizes.

      Regarding your question on the rarity. The R numbers I list are based on the catalogue ” The Coinage of the Knights in Malta” by Felice Restelli and Joseph Sammut. They list the following:-
      S=Scarce
      R.1=Rare
      R.2=Very rare
      R.3=Extremely rare
      R.4=Highest rarity
      PU=Probably unique
      This is only a guide as I have found that it is not accurate.

      As you may have noticed I am working on a Study that I hope when finished will be published into a book. I have been working on it for over 5 years and have 3 or 4 more years work to go. So far I have written over 270 pages of what I expect to be a 600 page book of every coin by die variety minted by the Knights during their stay in Malta 1530 – 1798.

      I would be very pleased if you could email me pictures (both sides) of all your coins of the Knights you have to help me with this study- also if possible advise me the edge type as listed in my study http://www.coinsofmalta.com/Study/30tariedges.htm , weight, size and rotation of the coins. I will then advise you of how many of each particular coin I have seen in private and public (Museums)collections I have seen.

      Regards
      John Gatt

      • Steve Lewis on 21/03/2016 at 6:51 am

        Thank you Mr. Gatt. I am just learning more about my heritage and I admire and appreciate all the work you have done concerning this project. God Bless You!

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