The Maria Theresa Thaler (or dollar) was a widely used 18th-century Austrian silver coin that became a staple of trade in Ethiopia during the 19th and 20th centuries. Due to its high silver content (approximately 83.3% silver), these coins were frequently melted down by Ethiopian silversmiths to cast traditional Coptic Christian crosses, or in some cases, cut directly into the shape of a cross.
The Maria Theresa Thaler (or dollar) was a widely used 18th-century Austrian silver coin that became a staple of trade in Ethiopia during the 19th and 20th centuries. Due to its high silver content (approximately 83.3% silver), these coins were frequently melted down by Ethiopian silversmiths to cast traditional Coptic Christian crosses, or in some cases, cut directly into the shape of a cross.
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4 W x 7 H cm |
