The Maria Theresa Thaler is a famous silver coin that has been used in global trade for centuries. It was first minted in 1741 and named after the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa, who reigned from 1740 to 1780. It is also known as the Austrian Rial or "Al-Fransi" in some regions like Yemen, where it was common due to the coffee trade. The coin contains 83% silver. The text surrounding the Empress's image is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase meaning "Maria Theresa, by the grace of God, Holy Roman Empress, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, Archduchess of Austria, Duchess of Burgundy, Countess of Tyrol."