Maria Theresa Silver Thaler

[Paul R]

Here is my example. It was found at a Silver Souk in Bahrain. It looks quite old, by the patina. Is there anyway to date it? There is writing on the rim as well... It definitely looks as if it has seen a trade route or two!

[Paul R]

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[Chris Boonzaier]

These must be a fantastic collecting field in their own right.

I have a lighter that was made by a POW in either East or North Africa, I assume in WW2, but maybe WW1. It has one of these on it... will dig it out when I get home.

Best

Chris

[Chris Boonzaier]

Here you go.....

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=4398

[Paul R]

Here you go.....

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=4398

Thanks Chris. I wish that there were a way to date these coins. From what I understand, they went unchanged for a very long time.

[oamotme]

Clara Semple's book on these coins is a must. They were issued in their millions by various mints through out Europe including, if I recall correctly, the Royal Mint. They spread all over Arabia, Eat Africa and even further afield. It is more than likely that the silver in the above illustrated necklace started life as coins. They are plentiful in Yemen and were even used as blanks to be restamped with the coinage of the Imams.

Regards,

Owain

[Paul R]

Owain,

So is there a way to somewhat date these on an individual basis? I would be interested in knowing what I can about mine.

Regards

Paul

[Eric Gaumann]

So is there a way to somewhat date these on an individual basis? I would be interested in knowing what I can about mine. Regards Paul

This site seems to be pretty good at explaining the differences. http://www.jdsworld.net/article/m_theresia_talers.html

[Paul R]

Thanks!!! Mine looks more like the Hafner H58, 1932-35 period, as it is rimless!

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi,

Here is a necklace from the wifes Grandmother....

[Chris Boonzaier]

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[bigjarofwasps]

Paul, I think its fair to say that your thaler, will be the real deal, given where you bought it. Its really interesting just how far a field these little coins travelled. If your interested in collecting them I can`t stress enough what valuable source of information Clara`s book is.

Chris, you`ve got some beautiful items there. Thats another joy about these coins, that they open a whole new collecting field, when they`ve been made into something. Especailly if the history of them is known.

[Bob]

So I bought a bunch of these thalers while in Yemen, but the I came home and one of them was "different" (I wasn't paying attention when buying it). Can anybody help me out here - what DID I buy?

[Bob]

And this is what caught my eye at home...

[Paul R]

That is an interesting one! Not a Mother Theresa!

[Bob]

It's the exact same size though and clearly there are similarities... maybe a fake, maybe something interesting - who knows? :jumping:

[Eric Gaumann]

With my limited Latin skills I decipher the obverse to be Francis, Austrian Emperor. And I see the date 1829 on the reverse.

Maybe this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperors_of_Austria?

[Paul R]

It's the exact same size though and clearly there are similarities... maybe a fake, maybe something interesting - who knows?

I dont think that it is fake at all... I think it could be something a bit more special.

[Ed_Haynes]

Coin jewlery is/was pretty common, at least in The Peninsula: "Trade dollars" (= MT thalers), Indian rupees, even Italian stuff out of East Africa. You could occasionally find these thalers in India (not so much in Mumbai, but north into coastal Gujarat and, I am told, further south along the Karnataka coast). (Not much Indian interest in silver, they wanted European [really American] gold.) I picked up a great stack of these in Doha where they were available (quite literally) by the kilo.

Edited April 11, 2009 by Ed_Haynes

[Bob]

With my limited Latin skills I decipher the obverse to be Francis, Austrian Emperor. And I see the date 1829 on the reverse.

Maybe this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperors_of_Austria?

Yep, got that far with my basic latin skills as well... but I'm completely unknowledgable when it comes to coins :unsure:

[Tom Y]

So I bought a bunch of these thalers while in Yemen, but the I came home and one of them was "different" (I wasn't paying attention when buying it). Can anybody help me out here - what DID I buy?

It's an 1829 Thaler of King Franz II, later Emperor Franz I, grandfather of Franz Josef, from the Vienna mint. Much less common.

[Bob]

It's an 1829 Thaler of King Franz II, later Emperor Franz I, grandfather of Franz Josef, from the Vienna mint. Much less common.

Thanks Tom :jumping:

[The Monkey God]

I believe that at some point Maria dollars were legal tender in Kabal, can anyone confirm this for me?

[bigjarofwasps]

I believe that at some point Maria dollars were legal tender in Kabal, can anyone confirm this for me?

I can confirm this, however, I have been unable to locate any sources, which provide any further information.

[bigjarofwasps]

Interesting example, has anyone ever come across one before?