Coin
date: label: Date
content: 1780
notes: label: Label Text
content: In North Africa silver coins were often melted down and made into jewelry, a practice still in use today. In Ethiopia,18th century thaler coins from Austria were preferred. The thaler was popular because it was difficult to "clip" since it had writing on the side of the coin. The combination of a ruler and a crowned double eagle also appealed to local symbolism. While sometimes the coin was used directly as a pendant, more often it was melted down to fashion neck crosses, liturgical crowns and similar adornments.
label: Description
content: Silver coin composed of a profile of a woman, Empress Maria Theresa, wearing a diadem, withh the face free from the veil which is caught at the shoulder with an oval pin, surrounded by the legend: "R IMP HU BO REG M. THERESIA ADG SF" on the front. On the back is a crown surmounting a double headed eagle, each head above a crown atop the coat-of-arms, surrounded by the legend, "BURG CO TYR 1780X ARCHID AVST DUX."
label: Provenance
content: Ciro R. Taddeo, Arlington, Virginia, -- to 1989
label: Exhibition History
content: Visionary: Viewpoints on Africa's Arts, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., November 4, 2017-ongoing
label: Exhibition History
content: The Art of African Currency, International Monetary Fund, Washington, D.C., April 4-November 22, 2002
label: Exhibition History
content: The Artistry of African Currency, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., March 12-July 23, 2000
label: Content Statement
content: As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
label: Image Requests
content: High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
place: label: Geography
content: Austria
label: Geography
content: Ethiopia
title: label: Object Name
content: <I>thaler</I>
topic: label: Topic
content: eagle
label: Topic
content: Writing
label: Topic
content: male
label: Topic
content: female
label: Topic
content: Trade
label: Topic
content: Currency
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African Art Collection
label: Exhibition
content: Visionary: Viewpoints on Africa's Arts
label: On View
content: NMAfA, Second Level Gallery (2193)
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Ciro R. Taddeo
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African Art
identifier: label: Object number
content: 89-4-2
objectType: label: Type
content: Sculpture
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: Silver
label: Dimensions
content: W x D: 3.8 x 3.8 cm ( 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 in.)