The most important distinguishing factor on the reverse of Maria Theresia Talers is the form of the shield in the center of the coin. It is used to determine the major reverse types.

There are three major reverse types. Each type has a number of minor variants, which are described in more detail in Dr. Leypold's book.

Type	Description	Form of center shield	The reverse
Type A	Single strong small feather between the eagle's wing feathers; U in AUST round; lower end of center shield rounded; Three center tail feathers.
Type B	Three small feathers between the eagle's wing feathers; V in AVST pointed; low end of center shield beveled; two center tail feathers; ribbon below upper crown start next to each other, creating an almost perfect rhombus between ribbons and eagle's neck. No signature.
Type C	Three small feathers between the eagle's wing feathers; V in AVST pointed; low end of center shield flat with point in the center; three center tail feathers; ribbon below upper crown start clearly apart from each other, creating a pentagon between lower end of crown, ribbons, and eagle's neck. No signature.