(This page uses CSS style sheets)

Signatures on Maria Theresia Talers

Content

Deutsche Version

Introduction

History

Description of variants

Original and Restrike

The Talers

Counterstamps

Forgeries

Medals

Other strikes

Search and Swap

Literature

Links

Modern coins often feature a letter or a combination of letters to identify the mint where the coin was struck. Maria Theresia Talers, however, use a combination of letters to identify the official(s) responsible for a particular strike.

The signature is one of the most important means to classify older strikes of Maria Theresia Talers. Signatures other than S.F. were only used until approximately 1853. Subsequent strikes all have the signature S.F. on the obverse. The signature can therefore only be used to identify coins struck up to 1853.

Obverse Signatures

Obverse signatures are located under the bust. Signatures are numbered following the scheme used in Dr. Leypold's book mentioned above.

1 -- No signature. Signature is on reverse of coin.
2 S.F. Schoebl-Faby. This is the original sianature used by the Guenzburg mint. After the Guenzburg mint was closed, this signature was used by the mints in Mila, Venice, and later Vienna.
3 S:F: Only known from Guenzburg strikes.
4 S:F. Rare variant, combined with cross/saltire type f (see below). Unknown mint, possibly Prague in 1836 [Leypold] or Italy [Hafner].
5 F.S. Faby-Stehr (?). Very likely from Milan mint [Leypold].
6 S.C. Schoebl-Clotz. Used on Talers struck in Genzburg until 1774.
7 ST/S.F. Possibly Stehr/Schoebl-Faby, or Schoebl Tobias/Stehr Franz. Very likely from Milan mint [Leypold].
8 B Used to identify coins struck in the Kremnitz mint starting with 1781.
9 .S.F. Very likely used by an italian mint; always combined with cross/saltire type g. Also possible on some Talers of type Ig struck in Guenzburg. [Leypold].

Reverse Signatures

In most cases, Talers will only have a reverse signature if there was no signature on the obverse. Only exception is the Kremnitz strike, which is signed on both sides.
Reverse signatures are located just below the eagle's claws. The first part of the reverse signature is on the left, the second part on the right of the eagle's tail feathers.

I.C.-F.A. Johann August von Cronberg, mint master, and Franz Aicherau, warden. Common signature on coins struck in Vienna from 1774. Used on Vienna mint restrikes until approximately 1853.
T.S.-I.F. Tobias Schoebl, mint master, and Josef Faby, mint warden, in Guenzburg. This signature is seem on a few rare strikes from Guenzburg which do not have the common S.F. signature in the obverse.
S.K.-P.D. Sigmund A. Klemmer, mint master, and Paschal, von Damiani, both wardens in Kremnitz. Used in conjunction with signature "B" on the obverse.
A.H.-G.S. A.J. Hammerschmidt, mint master, und G. Schickmayer, warden, in Karlsburg. This signature was initially very small, then larger.
A.H.-S.G. This signature is seen on a very rare variant struck in Karlsburg. This is likely to be a minting error, since the variant is identical to another variant with signature A.H.-G.S.
A.H.-B.S. This signature is seen on a very rare variant struck in Karlsburg. It is unknown at this time if the change was made on purpose or if it is a minting error.
E.v.S.-I.K. Paul Erdmann von Schwingerschuh, mint master, and Ignatz Kendler, warden, on the 1780 Prague strike.
P.S.-I.K. Paul Erdmann von Schwingerschuh, mint master, and Ignatz Kendler, warden, on later restrikes made in Prague in 1812.

Valid HTML 4.01!