Maria Theresa thaler
From Free net encyclopedia
The Maria Theresa thaler (MTT) is a silver bullion coin that has been used in world trade continuously since it was first minted as a thaler in 1741. It was named after Empress Maria Theresa, who ruled Austria, Hungary, and Bohemia from 1740 to 1780.
Since 1780, the coin has always been dated 1780 and has been struck by the following mints: Birmingham, Bombay, Brussels, London, Paris, Rome and Utrecht, in addition to the Habsburg mints in Hall, Günzburg, Kremnitz, Karlsburg, Milan, Prague and Vienna. Between 1751 and 2000, some 389 million were minted. These different mints distinguished their printings by slight alterations to the saltire, or "flower" symbol, which looks like an "X" at the top left of the reverse side of the coin. Since 1946, when the Vienna Mint rescinded the rights of foreign governments to issue such copies, over 49 million have been produced.
For much of the early 1900s, it was the official money of Ethiopia, with the Bank of Abyssinia issuing banknotes denominated in thalers. It was one of the first coins used in the United States and probably contributed (along with the Spanish eight-bit dollar and the Straits dollar) to the choice of a dollar as the main unit of currency for the United States. The Maria Theresa thaler was also formerly the currency of Muscat and Oman.
The coin remains popular in Africa and the Middle East to this day. It is a handsome silver coin with a portrait of the buxom Empress on the front and the Habsburg Double Eagle on the back. It is said that the low-cut gown she wears has added to the popularity of the coin.
It is 39.5 mm in diameter and 2.5mm thick, weighs 28.0668 grams and contains 23.3890 grams (0.752 troy ounces) of fine silver. It has a millesimal fineness of 833.
In German-speaking countries, following a spelling reform dated 1901 which took effect two years later, "Thaler" is written "Taler" (although the spelling of "Theresia" (sic) was not affected). Hence 20th-century references to this coin in German and Austrian sources are found under "Maria-Theresien-Taler". The spelling in English-speaking countries was not affected.
The inscription on this coin is in Latin: "M. THERESIA D. G. R. IMP. HU. BO. REG. ARCHID. AVST. DUX BURG. CO. TYR. 1780 X". It is an abbreviation of "Maria Theresia Dei Gratia Romanorum Imperatrix, Hungarorum Bohemorumque Regina, Archidux Austriaca, Dux Burgundica, Comes Tyrolensis. 1780 X", which means, "Maria Theresa, by the grace of God, Empress of the Romans, Queen of the Hungarians and Bohemians, Austrian Archduchess, Burgundian Duchess, Tyrolian Countess, died 1780". The "X" is actually a saltire. Around the rim of the coin is the motto of her reign: "Iustitia et Clementia", meaning "righteousness and kindness".
Further reading
- Clare Semple - A Silver Legend: The Story of the Maria Theresa Thaler (Barzan Publishing, 2006) ISBN 0954970101
External links
- The Maria Theresia Taler 1780 - Provides information including history, description of variants, strike dates, valuation list, medals, and forgeries.de:Maria-Theresien-Taler