The First Dollar

The first Dollar. Bohemia. Count Stephan Schlick and brothers. Guldengroschen. Joachimsthal. 1517. Davenport 8138.

The first Dollar originated not from the US but actually derived its name and origin from a small but very rich town in Bohemia. Today the town is named Jachymov, modern day Czech Republic, it was named Joachimsthal (Valley of John) and the area became prominent and prosperous due to rich deposits of silver prior to the discovery of the rich silvers of the New World.Owned by the Counts of Schlick, the family was allowed to mine and issue silver coins of finesse and weight to match it's value in gold thus the term "Guldengroschen" or "Golden Groschen". With the invention of the screw press, the Counts of Schlick was able to mint coins on large planchets and sufficient quantities all bearing the image of St John and the Bohemian Lion.

These coins became so popular that they set the standard of weight and finesse across future like issues across Europe. Popularly known as Joachimsthal after the area where they were mined and minted, it became abbreviated to the 1st "Thaler". Traded widely across Europe, it eventually influenced world trade when the Spanish Pieces of Eight adopted the standard in the new world. Throughout the centuries, different pronunciations from different countries eventually changed Thaler to Daaler and then became "Dollar" when immigrants started colonizing the Americas.

 

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Two thumbs up. Love this stuff.

 

Thanks @longshot .. Although not fantastic design wise but historically significant..

 

I agree, as the origin of the dollar, very significant. And the German States produced a vast amount of interesting (to me anyway) silver coinage and this is a part of it.

 

I agree with the Thaler. Subsequent issues are very beautiful and intricate. Almost a work of art by itself. But i prefer coins with a story..

 

Great coin @Loong Siew
I would love to add such a historically significant coin to my collection one day. The Thalers of the 16th and 17th centuries that were produced in Germany have always fascinated me as well

 

Thanks @TheRed .. I have been eyeing this coin for a long time.. this is the first issue design. Soon after there is a slight redesign of the image of St John.. Also a Joachimsthal.

 

Can you tell us about the inscriptions. The meanings?

 

Very informative! Learn something everyday on COIN TALK

 

Here are some details https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces87014.html

 

Thank you! Very informative...makes me proud to be a Bohemian.

 

Thanks for sharing that about the fir$t Dollar.

 

Haha.. Thanks.. I reckon you meant Czech?

 

You're welcome.. Not many people realize where our dollars come from..

 

Siew, I have 22 of the US presidential gold dollars and was wondering if you know the cheapest way to aquire the additional gold dollars to complete my collection?

 

No, my great grandparents imigrated
here from Bohemia in 1864. Bohemia was still a country then.

 

My Bad, Thanks anyway.

 

Interesting story, even though I am surprised that this would be considered "ancient". Ah well, we just discussed how flexibly that terms is used here ...

The funny thing is that the Taler got its name from St. Joachimsthal (Jáchymov) but that the coin originated elsewhere. The mint in Hall, Tyrol started making such Guldengroschen coins in 1484. The specifications were then adopted for the pieces made in St. Joachimsthal ... and those quickly became more popular.

Christian

 

Glad you got it

 

Thanks @Cheech9712