1 Thaler – Joseph I Hall

The 1 Thaler coin from the Austrian Empire, minted between 1705 and 1710 during the reign of Joseph I, features an interesting design element – the portrait of the emperor himself. The obverse side of the coin depicts Joseph I facing to the right, wearing a crown and royal robes, while the reverse side shows the coat of arms of the Habsburg dynasty. This design was a departure from the traditional design of thalers, which typically featured an image of the Holy Roman Emperor on the obverse and the coat of arms of the minting city on the reverse. The use of Joseph I’s portrait on the coin was a nod to his status as the ruler of the Austrian Empire and reflected the growing influence of the Habsburg dynasty during that time.