Maria Theresa thalers
Struck in Italy and Austria; circulated in Ethiopia
Silver alloy
Diam. 4 cm (1 1/2 in.)
National Museum of African Art, gift of Ciro R. Taddeo, 89-4-1, 2
In Ethiopia, Maria Theresa thalers were often melted down to produce imperial crowns or to fabricate coin pendants. Coins of other origins were also melted down and transformed into the silver jewelry of North Africa.