e x eter university of an exhibition showing the story of a remarkable silver coin at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4ND on Thursday 28 January 2010 at 6pm Lecture by Clara Semple followed by a reception Exhibition open: 9am-5pm Monday 1 February – Friday 30 April 2010 (closed at weekends) Please telephone: 01392 264040 for more details You are cordially invited to the preview of SILVER LEGEND
Transcript
exeteru n i v e r s i t y o f
an exhibition showing the story of a remarkable silver coin
at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies,University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4ND
on Thursday 28 January 2010 at 6pm
Lecture by Clara Semple followed by a reception
Exhibition open: 9am-5pmMonday 1 February – Friday 30 April 2010 (closed at weekends)
Please telephone:
01392 264040for more details
You are cordially invited to the preview of
SILVER LEGEND
exeteru n i v e r s i t y o f
THE SILVER LEGEND EXHIBITION showsthe story of a remarkable silver coin, the MariaTheresa thaler, described by John MaynardKeynes as “A Coin of CosmopolitanImportance”.
In 1741, a year after Empress Maria Theresainherited the Habsburg lands, imperial mintsfirst struck thalers bearing her image. By thetime of her death (1780) the Empress hadalready coined a silver legend.
The thaler, which lends itself to the word dollar,became a much desired and indispensable
trade coin throughout the Middle East andAfrica and a currency that funded wars,ransoms and the slave trade.
Over 400 million Maria Theresa thalers havebeen struck to date and it is still minted inVienna today.
The exhibition displays thalers includingoverstrikes from Arabia and various fakes andforgeries. Also on show are decorative itemsincorporating the coin as well as unique andspectacular jewellery made of silver frommelted down thalers.
SILVER LEGEND an exhibition showing the story of a remarkable silver coin
