Tokens and Play Money
Another class of coins or tokens resembling Maria Theresia Talers are rather cheap, privately made coinages or castings. Common use is in cheap brooches or for buttons, or for counter or play money use. Material is usually not silver, more likely some kind of copper alloy. Pieces may be silvered, gilded, or show traces of it. Diameter and weight is typically less than the original. Pieces will often show signs of removed handles, or still have handles or loops.
There are two disctinct groups of token and play money based on Maria Theresia coins.
One group of tokens closely resembles Maria Theresia Thalers, with only minor variations. Tokens in this group are commonly dated 1780.
Tokens and play money based on 1780 Maria Theresia Talers
A second group of tokens is not based on an actual coin. Tokens in this group show a date of 1760, and the overall appearance only vaguely resembles the appearance of a Maria Theresia Thaler. This is a pure phantasy production.
Tokens and play money dated 1760
Primitive reproductions
This group of coins is difficult to classify. It is unclear if those are counterfeits, to be used as jewelry, or possibly souvenirs.Clearly modeled after Maria Theresia Talers, there are substantial differences, possibly indicating that the artists creating the pieces may not have had complete knowledge of Western letters. Diameter resembles that of original Talers. Material is typically a copper alloy.
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This piece is reported to be of Macedonia, Greece origin.
The signature might be Classic Greek and mean "F.S.".
Struck around 1900 according to Hafner. Possibly Silver.
Hafner believes this was an attempt to create a Trade Dollar. |
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| This piece is possibly of Egyptian, Yemeni or East African (perhaps Mogadishu) origin. Its style suggests it may have been struck or cast between the 1930s and 1950s. The inscription contains the arabic word ma'dan which, in the context of a coin, may either mean "bronze" or point to a geographical location or a business name. |  |
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