¼ Thaler - Maximilian II Bohemia reverse; Joachimsthal

Joachimsthal — the Joachim's Valley mint in northwestern Bohemia — was the original source of the large silver coins that gave the world the word "dollar," via the corrupted Low German "Daler" from "Joachimsthaler." By 1573, the mint had been operating for over half a century under Habsburg supervision, its silver drawn from the Erzgebirge mines that made Bohemia the most productive silver-producing region in Europe. Maximilian II, ruling as both Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia, maintained tight imperial control over Joachimsthal's output throughout his reign.