NEWPs: Duo of Maltese 30 Tari [De Rohan & Hompesch] (NGC AU 58 & AU 53) - Recapping Malta 2025 pt 1!

Quick Final Recap with Two Maltese 30 Taris - Awaiting some from NGC and PCGS via Grading:

Today, I wanted to share two Maltese 30 Taris from my Personal Collection. They are a De Rohan 30 Tari from 1790 (with Eagle Under Bust) and a Hompesch 30 Tari from 1798 (with Dot Under Bust). I personally find the 30 Tari of 1798 to be under graded for an AU 53. This Hompesch 30 Tari, a single year type, is pedigreed to a Kuenker Auction in 2005.

I am also greatly appreciative of using John Gatt's reference numbers and his awesome and seminal catalog to decipher my collecting interest (side gig) on Maltese 30 Taris (i.e., the crown).

Coin 1:

MALTA (Order of) | 30 Tari of 1790 - NGC AU 58 (1/1) | Grand Master de Rohan | Valletta Mint | Lustrous and Well Struck, Usual Adjustment Marks. Choice!

Hi! I wanted to showcase another recent acquisition—my favorite series to collect from Europe. I just love to collect quality “thaler sized” Maltese pieces whenever I can.

This piece is a 1790 Maltese 30 Tari struck during the reign of Emmanuel de Rohan, who was the penultimate Grandmaster of Malta. He revised the legal code and brought a degree of enlightenment to Malta. De Rohan was born in April 1725 and died in 1797 in Malta at the age of 72 and was the last Grandmaster to pass away on Malta.

Briefly, 1790 is a year that has TWO TYPES: one where there is an EAGLE below the bust and one where there is NO EAGLE below the bust of de Rohan. The former, which is this coin, is cataloged as Davenport 1609, whereas the latter is cataloged as Davenport 1608. Sometimes 1609–my coin—is called a DRAPED and ARMORED BUST—whereas 1608 is called an ARMORED BUST. Lastly, in direct terms, it seems that Davenport 1608 is a RARER type due when considering the PCGS Pop Report and the NGC Census in addition to my active usage of AC Search Pro.

This piece has been graded by NGC as a AU 58 and is the second highest graded at NGC, after a MS 61. It is tied with the PCGS Top Pop, a AU 58, that was also sold at Stack’s Bowers recently. There are 11 graded at NGC and 2 at PCGS. This piece displays hardly any evidence of handling or wear across the high points and there is a sharp strike to both sides. Both sides retain their original luster and the Grandmaster’s hair is intact, along with his breastplate. As usual for these cool Maltese crowns, we see some noticeable adjustment marks, with a few on the reverse eagle design’s bottom-left side. The reverse is sharply struck with clear eagle details and the feathers are fully elucidated. We see clear denticles and the touch of wear just on the Grandmaster’s hair and the tops of a few areas of the eagle’s feathers. Though, for these Maltese pieces it is hard to differentiate from wear and a soft strike.

References: Davenport 1609, Krause KM 335.1, Gatt-27-30T-71&63

Coin 2:

MALTA (Order of) | 30 Tari of 1798 - NGC AU 53 (Choice!) | Grand Master Ferdinand Hompesch | French Occupation Issue - Valletta Mint | Scarce Single Year Type, Lustrous with Sharp Strike, Minimal Adjustment Marks | ex. Kuenker 2005

Today, I wanted to showcase another classic European piece—a large 30 Tari (similar to a Thaler or Tallero) and has a weight of 29.6 grams and a diameter of 40.5mm.

This 30 Tari was struck in 1798, during a critical juncture in Maltese history where Malta was amidst the French siege and then occupation by Napoleon Bonaparte. The Siege saw little action!

With this in mind, notably, this coin features a dot below the bust. This is a marker believed to signify coins struck by the French to differentiate them from those minted under Hompesch’s authority for the same year (Dav-1611). To be clear, this dot below bust is Davenport 1611B, as PCGS would note; NGC seems to go with the general Davenport 1611.

This piece, graded AU 53 by NGC seems choice and personally, undergraded. There are barely any noticeable adjustment marks, which all are common to these pieces, and the strike is very nice and strong, with exceptional details on the Knight’s (uneven) hair and the feather details, like the eagle‘s tail/wings. No other flaws like ex. mounting. We see some usual handing and wear on the high points—though, sometimes hard to discern from weak strikes, and miniscule marks on the fields. There is also no porosity, which is often associated with these silver Maltese issues. The laureled edge is intact—just like a Spanish 8 Reales Columnario! There is also a light and appealing original tone on both sides—most likely from an old coin cabinet.

Lastly, this piece has a cool provenance. It was Lot 2428 in Kuenker‘s Auction 105, which was held for 2 days in September of 2005, and was sold raw. Subsequently it was slabbed via NGC and most likely between 2005 to 2010.

Reflecting, I know this piece is the same type and even variety as my previous example, graded MS 64+ by NGC; however, it does not hurt to grab another choice Maltese piece whenever I can!

References: Krause KM 345.3, Davenport 1611B, Schembri-3. Gatt-28-30T-61R23

Bonus! With my other 1798 30 Tari in MS 64+ and apparently, the same Gatt Catalog Number for ... Die Match for both Obv and Rev!