15/05/2026 15:28:00

Noel Galea Bason - Designer & Engraver

Noel Galea Bason will be remembered as one of Malta's most distinguished artists, whose remarkable career spanned more than four decades and left an enduring imprint on the nation's cultural and numismatic heritage.

Born in Floriana in 1955, Galea Bason rose to prominence through exceptional talent, dedication, and craftsmanship. A graduate of the renowned Scuola dell'Arte della Medaglia in Rome, he became the first Maltese artist to design a national coin in 1977 - a milestone that marked the beginning of a pioneering legacy in Maltese coin and medal engraving.

As the sole engraver at the Malta Mint until 1991, he shaped the visual identity of modern Maltese numismatics. Throughout his distinguished career, he designed more than 120 coins and numerous commemorative medals, immortalising defining moments in Malta's history with elegance, precision, and artistic depth.

Among his many achievements were Malta's commemorative issues marking independence and the republic. Noel Galea Bason also designed the Maltese Lira coins of 1986 and the national face of Malta's euro coins. In 1997 he designed the coins of San Marino. In 2024, he rekindled Malta's association with the Sovereign Military Order of Malta when he was commissioned to design the coin set issued with the portrait of Grand Master Fra' John T. Dunlap.

Beyond his numismatic contributions, Galea Bason also enriched Malta's public spaces through sculpture and monument design. His artistic excellence earned international recognition through solo exhibitions in Malta, Paris, and Yugoslavia, while his final major retrospective, held at the National Museum of Archaeology in 2024, celebrated a lifetime devoted to art, heritage, and national identity.

Noel Galea Bason's legacy will endure through the countless works he created the history he helped preserve in metal and stone, and the inspiration he leaves to future generations of Maltese artists and craftsmen.

Back to Archive