Help Required - Coin ID?

[Guest Ant Atkin]

Hello, everyone. I'd like some advice on the following couple of coins - I know nothing about the subject and have been asked by a relative for assistance on identifying and selling them online.

Coin 1

PICTURE: Queen Victoria?

TEXT: R.IMP.HU.BO.REG M-THERESIA D.G

(S.F. can be seen under the portrait)

REVERSE TEXT: BURG.CO.TYR.1780.X ARCHID.AVST.DUX with a fancy coat of arms

the coin is in rather a grubby state.

Coin2

PICTURE: Queen Elizabeth, CHURCHILL with "CHURCHILL" text on other side)

1965

TEXT: ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA F.D.

the coin is quite grubby

Any adeas of price, where best to sell and general coin identification?

Cheers folks,

Ant Atkin

[Emperor Oli]

The first one is a Maria Theresa Thaler (is it the picture below?) and even though it says 1780 on it, they always minted them with htat date on, even now. Maria Theresa was the Archduchess of Austria, Holy Roman Empress, and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia. She was the only female ruler in the history of the Habsburg dynasty. The silver thaler was the currency of the Austrian empire and was very important for trade with the Levant and therefore became the most famous and most popular silver coin in the Arabian world. The reason why it says 1780 on is because due to the demand from Arabic traders, Maria's successor decreed that the 1780 dies could be used to strike the new coins. The Thaler lost its status as legal tender in Austria in the middle of the nineteenth century, but an edict of 1857 as well as the present laws of Austria, made sure that the mint at Vienna still produces the thaler down to the present day.

The second coin you have is a Churchill crown minted in 1965 to commemorate his death. Even if it was in mint condition, it would be worth little more than £1 and in its grubby state, lesss than that. Most people agree it's quite a horrible coin and I doubt that you'll find a buyer for it. You could use it as something else though. For instance, the owner of this site sold one to a motorcyclist and it was welded to the side of the bike to block something I think and looked quite fetching. There are millions of other uses if you put your mind to work!

Edit: I don't really know how much the thaler is worth

Edited August 13, 2004 by Emperor Oli

[Chris Perkins]

The first is a Maria Theresa Austrian Thaler (A popular request). The date was 'frozen' long ago, so the coin is probably very modern and worth about £6.00 for silver content.

The second is a Churchill Crown, made in very large numbers and worth £1 at most if it mint condition.