Maria Theresa thaler

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Silver coin: 1 Maria Theresa thaler

The Maria Theresa thaler (MTT) is a silver bullion coin and a type of Conventionsthaler that has been used in world trade continuously since it was first minted in 1741. It is named after Maria Theresa who ruled Austria, Hungary, and Bohemia from 1740 to 1780 and is depicted on the coin.

History

In 1741 the first MTT was struck according to the Reichsthaler standard with 1⁄9 of a Cologne mark of fine silver, or 25.98 grams. In 1750 a new thaler was struck with a gross weight of 1⁄10 of 1 Vienna mark of silver, 5⁄6 fine (with a fine silver content of 23.39 grams, or 1⁄10 of a Cologne mark). In 1751 this new standard Conventionsthaler was effectively adopted across the German-speaking world when it was accepted formally in the Bavarian monetary convention. This new, post-1751 thaler has continued as a trade coin ever since.

Since the death of Maria Theresa in 1780, the coin has always been dated 1780. On 19 September 1857, Emperor

Francis Joseph of Austria
declared the Maria Theresa thaler to be an official trade coinage. A little over a year later, on 31 October 1858, it lost its status as a currency in Austria.

The MTT could also be found throughout the

Arab world, especially in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Muscat and Oman, in Africa, especially in Ethiopia, and India. Being of similar size to the Spanish eight-real coin, and initially thought to be of French origin, the MTT acquired the Arab name al-riyal al-fransi (الريال الفرنسى, literally the 'French riyal').[1] This coin was therefore the predecessor to, among others, the Saudi riyal and the Ethiopian birr
.

During the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies in World War II, enough people preferred it to the money issued by the occupying forces that the American Office of Strategic Services created counterfeit MTTs for use by resistance forces.[2]

In German-speaking countries, following a spelling reform dated 1901 that took effect two years later, Thaler is written Taler (the spelling of given names like Theresa 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 MTT continues to be produced by the Austrian Mint and is available in both proof and uncirculated conditions.[3]

Details

The thaler is 39.5–41 mm (1.56–1.61 in) in diameter and 2.5 mm (0.098 in) thick, weighs 28.0668 grams (0.99003 oz) and contains 23.386 grams (0.752

millesimal fineness
. Note: Rome mint struck MTTs are marginally lighter being produced in finer 835-standard instead of 833-standard silver.

Reverse of the Maria Theresa thaler

The inscription on the obverse of this coin is in Latin: "M. THERESIA D. G. R. IMP. HU. BO. REG." The Reverse reads "ARCHID. AVST. DUX BURG. CO. TYR. 1780 X". It is an abbreviation of Maria Theresia, Dei Gratia Romanorum Imperatrix, Hungariae Bohemiaeque Regina, Archidux Austriae, Dux Burgundiae, Comes Tyrolis. 1780 ☓, which means, 'Maria Theresa, by the grace of God,

Burgundian cross,[4]
and was added in 1750 indicating the new debased standard of the thaler. Around the rim of the coin is the motto of her reign: Justitia et Clementia, meaning 'Justice and Clemency'.

Minting outside of Austria

The MTT quickly became a standard trade coin and several nations began striking Maria Theresa thalers. The following

Mussolini
gained a 25-year concession over the production of the MTT. The Italians blocked non-Italian banks and bullion traders from obtaining the coin and so France, Belgium, and the UK started producing the coin to support their economic interests in the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and East Coast of Africa. In 1961 the 25-year concession ended and Austria made diplomatic approaches to the relevant governments requesting they cease production of the coin. The UK was the last government to agree formally to the request in February 1962.

The MTT came to be used as currency in large parts of Africa and the Middle East until after World War II. It was common from North Africa to Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, down the coast of Tanzania to Mozambique, and also in the Arabian Peninsula (Oman, Yemen). Its popularity in the Red Sea region was such that merchants would not accept any other type of currency. The Italian government produced a similarly designed coin in the hope of replacing the Maria Theresa thaler, but it never gained acceptance.[6]

The Maria Theresa thaler was also formerly the currency of the Hejaz, Yemen, and the Aden Protectorate, as well as

Double Eagle on the back.[8]

In the United Kingdom, the Maria Theresa thaler bearing the date of 1780 is a "protected coin" for of Part II of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981.[9]

Ethiopia

Shipping crates of MTT in Ethiopia, c. 1910

The MTT is first recorded as circulating in

banknotes denominated in thalers. Starting in 1935 the Italians minted the MTT at the mint in Rome for use in their conquest of Ethiopia. Then during World War II, the British minted some 18 million MTTs in Bombay to use in their East African Campaign to drive the Italians out of Ethiopia.[13]

Citations

  1. ^ "The Historical Framework of the Currency of Saudi Arabia".
  2. ^ Lovell, Stanley P. (July 1963). "Deadly Gadgets of the OSS" (PDF). Popular Science: 56–58. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
  3. ^ "Austrian Mint". www.muenzeoesterreich.at.
  4. The Numismatic Chronicle
    . Seventh Series. 12: 233.
  5. ^ Fenn, Ian (December 2009). "TWO RARE VARIETIES OF THE 1780 MARIA THERESIA THALER".
  6. ^ Alan McRae, "A Famous Trade Coin," Australian Coin Review 356 [February 1994] p. 30.
  7. ^ Oman silver
  8. ^ Harrigan, P. (February 2002). "Tales of a Thaler". Saudi Aramco World. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  9. ^ The Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981, section 27(1), as read with the Forgery and Counterfeiting (Protected Coins) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/505), article 2 and Schedule
  10. Haile Selassie I University
    . p. 468.
  11. ^ Kalmer, Joseph; Hyun L. (1935). Abessinien (in German and Czech). Translated by Milena Jesenská. Chapter 13 describes currencies used in pre-WWII Abyssinia.
  12. ^ "Eritrean Tallero". 30 May 2008. Archived from the original on 28 August 2015.
  13. ^ Tschoegl, Adrian E (2001). "Maria Theresa's Thaler: A Case of International Money". Eastern Economic Journal. 27 (4): 445–464.

Further reading

External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maria Theresa thaler.
  • The Maria Theresia Taler 1780 – Provides information including history, description of variants, strike dates, valuation list, medals, and forgeries.
  • Austrian Mint – The place where the coin is minted to this day.
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