Augustus III Thaler

Augustus III's thalers were minted in Dresden, using silver from Saxon mines to fund a king more at home in Germany than Poland.

That practical origin underscores the coin's role in the uneasy union between Saxony and the Polish crown. Struck between 1733 and 1763, these large silver pieces typically bore Augustus's portrait on the obverse and the Polish eagle with Saxon emblems on the reverse. The designs varied by year, reflecting changing political alliances, but always emphasized his dual titles.

Exact mintage figures are murky; records from that era often went up in smoke during later wars. What we know is that these coins circulated widely in Poland, despite their foreign production.

Some numismatists quip that Augustus III's thalers were the original long-distance relationship—minted afar but expected to hold value close to home.