I became interested in the coins of the Knights of Malta when my grandfather Amadeo D’Agostino visited Australia in 1976. He had not seen his daughter (my mother) and her family since we migrated to Australia in 1951 from Malta. I had been collecting coins since a child but when my grandfather gave me a Knights of Malta 1776 Grano my interest in coins changed to the coins of my birthplace.

In 2005 after a career in the automotive industry, initially in sales and marketing and ending managing three companies. I had semi-retired and was working as a consultant. By then my interest in these coins of the Knights specially the 30 Tari coins was frustrating as many of my coins were not recorded in any previous catalogue and I found numerous varieties that were not recorded. So, I decided to see if I could compile a list of all the 30 Tari coins.

My wife Eileen and I had met at Rotary in 2005 and were married in 2008. My study of the 30 Tarì coins was interrupted for 3 years when I was appointed a District Governor of Rotary International during 2012-13. After the end of my term as District Governor, I decided to catalogue all the coins minted by the Knights in Malta. This entailed many overseas trips to visit museums and collectors to photograph as many of the Knight’s coins as possible. During these visits Eileen assisted by recording details of the coins while I identified and photographed each coin. In 2018 after 12 years research, firstly on the 30 Tari coin then on all the denomination I published my book "Coins Minted by the Knights in Malta".

I officially launch my book on the 16th November 2018 at the Gran Salon, National Museum of Archaeology, Republic St, Valletta Malta.

John Gatt