1750 Maria Theresa 1/2 Reichsthaler

My second significant acquisition for this year. I have been looking for a Graz ( Steirmark) MTT for some considerable time. Either they don't come up for sale, or when they do they are from years that are beyond my budget at the time of sale. So when a half thaler example came up I decided I would use it as a space filler( BTW Murphy tells me that now a really spectacular Full thaler will come up for sale in the next few weeks).

One warning some European collectors would disagree with the Reichsthaler description. I use the term because I find many dealers describe them as Reichstalers....and as it was an issue of the Reich and matched the silver standard ( 9 thalers to the Vienna Mark) for the Austrian led Holy Roman Empire. Post 1753 Thalers are often described described as convention thalers(10 to the Cologne mark).

It has the standard edge inscription IUSTITIA ET CLEMENTIA but with Graz specific decorations between the words. Generally you identify the mint by the arms in the heart shield on the reverse....in this case the arms are the Stiermark (Styria) lion and, looking at this coin, topped by a unique crown