Silver Crown Thaler (Early Trade Dollar), Francis II, 1794.

Silver Crown Thaler Kronenthaler (crown thaler) Early Trade Dollar, Francis II, Mint Year 1794.



Obverse: Wreathed bust of Francis II right. Mint initial (A) of the Vienna mint below.
Legend: FRANC.II.D.G.R.I.S.A.GER.HIE.HVN.BOH.REX

Reverse: The Golden Fleece hanging on a flintstone underneath a fire iron with sparkles forming Cross of Burgundy. Crowns in fields, hence the name of this coin (crown thaler).
Legend: ARCH.AVST.DVX.BVRG.LOTH.BRAB.COM.FLAN.1794

Mint Place: Vienna (A)
Reference: Davenport 1180, KM-62.1.
Weight: 29.38 gram of Silver
Diameter: 40 mm

The Kronenthaler was a silver coin first issued in the Austrian Netherlands (see Austrian Netherlands Kronenthaler). It contained one ninth of a Cologne mark of silver and was thus equal to the Reichsthaler of the Leipzig convention. Most examples show the bust of the Austrian ruler on the obverse and four crowns on the reverse, hence the name which means "crown thaler". After the Austrian Netherlands was occupied by France, several German states (Bavaria, Baden, Hesse-Darmstadt and Württemberg) issued Kronenthaler, as it had become a popular trade coin.