Joseph II Thaler

Joseph II's thaler introduced a standardized weight of 28.06 grams of silver, a direct result of his currency reforms aimed at unifying the Habsburg domains.

This made it easier for merchants across the empire to trade without haggling over varying coin values. The obverse typically bore the emperor's bust, facing right, with inscriptions reflecting his titles, while the reverse showed the imperial double-headed eagle. Struck in Vienna, these coins drew from recycled silver, including older thalers, to meet the reform's demands.

Mintage figures are murky; records from that period were often incomplete or destroyed in later conflicts. If you're hunting one, expect variations in die quality due to the era's minting techniques.

That said, don't expect these to fetch a king's ransom today.