Noel Galea Bason has died aged 71.

Here you go;

https://timesofmalta.com/article/appreciation-noel-galea-bason.1128568 .

@LaMaltese ,did you read this in the Times of Malta?

He was great at designing Malta's coins.

Aidan.

Yes, unfortunately Malta's greatest coin designer and engraver has died. Since his death I have been busy amending our catalogue to make sure all his created works are attributed to him. NGB was the first Maltese artist to create coins for another country other then Malta when in 1997 he was commissioned to design the coins of San Marino. These coins were not attributed to him until I amended the catalogue accordingly. In 2023 the Sovereign military order of Malta also commissioned him to create there coins, and he has done so for the last 3 years. I believe they will continue using the portrait of Grandmaster Dunlap created by NGB for the forseeable future. Enough said, Malta lost a great artist indeed, but he will definetely continue living through his works, especially through the current Maltese euro coins in circulation across the eurozone ! RIP Legend !

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/set.php?id=2091

https://postemagistrali.orderofmalta.int/cofanetti/emissione-numismatica-2025-principe-81-gran-maestro-fra-john-dunlap-serie-oro-argento/

His initials ‘NGB’ can be seen clearly on the Maltese Euro coin obverses.

It is a shame that he was never awarded any of Malta's honours for his services to Malta.

Aidan.

Sad, sounds like he was to the coins, what Chevalier Emvin Cremona was to the stamps of Malta between 1957 and 1980.

Moneytane

Sad, sounds like he was to the coins, what Chevalier Emvin Cremona was to the stamps of Malta between 1957 and 1980.

indeed he was the official engraver and designer until his last breath, so many Maltese coins designed by him since 1986 !

The Malta Independent also has an article about him as well;

https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2026-05-15/local-news/Malta-mourns-artist-Noel-Galea-Bason-designer-of-nation-s-coins-and-monuments-6736289752 .

Aidan.