Empress Maria Theresa of Austria Thaler Quizzing Glass c. 1780

This 1780 Empress Maria Theresa of Austria Thaler Quizzing Glass is made of 833 Fine Silver with its original hand ground glass lens*. This thaler coin was produced in 1780 in the Austro-Hungarian Empire to commemorate the Habsburg Empress Maria Theresa in the year of her death. She reigned for 40 years. On the flip side is her double eagle crest.

The case contains its original hand ground quizzing (magnifying) glass with a spring loaded release, and assembled in the late 1700s or early 1800s. Quizzing glasses refer to a single magnifying lens, usually on a handle, that allowed the user to examine an object more closely. However, they were often used as a prop to peer down on someone or something with disdain. Similar to elaborate watch chains in the 18th & 19th century, quizzing glass coin conversions were a popular and expensive high fashion novelty kept in a waistcoat pocket until needed. 

Dimensions: 1.5"x1.5"x.25"

*PLEASE NOTE - THIS IS A COLLECTOR'S PIECE AND IT IS OVER 200 YEARS OLD. IT IS NOT GUARANTEED AS A USABLE OPTICAL DEVICE AND THERE IS ALSO NO WARRANTY ON ITS CENTURIES OLD SPRING LOAD MECHANISM.

ITEMS ARE SOLD AS IS, NON-RETURNABLE WITH NO WARRANTY, ALL WEIGHTS & GRADES HAVE BEEN ESTIMATED AND ARE APPROXIMATES.