Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > September 1997 > 1997.09.05 > 11Prev  Next


Dollar and Thaler
By Dan Wilson

Jan Kijlstra said:

> By the way: the word "dollar" comes from the Dutch word "Daalder"
> and the German word "Taler".

The thaler (Eng. pronunciation "taaler") was a very large coin minted in
the Middle Ages of a now unknown silver alloy which never tarnished.  It
usually had some symbolic scene on it or a picture relating to a legend.

This connected it to its forebear, also called a thaler, which was a
staff with six or eight scenes from a fable or parable, usually carved
in wood with metal trimmings.  The purpose of these was to remind a
story-teller of all the detail of the tale he was telling, in the days
when few people could read.

The meaning of "thaler", was, therefore, a "tale-r" or "teller".  Very
simple and straightforward.

Dan Wilson

 [ My 7 kg dictionary says that "thaler" is an abbreviation of
 [ Joachimsthaler [Joachim's valley], a piece of money first coined
 [ about 1518 in the valley of St. Joachim in Bohemia.  The word
 [ "ta'ler" is shown as a varient of "thaler"; however, the dictionary
 [ also says that "tal'er" is "one who tales, or tells stories."  Same
 [ spelling but different pronunciation, therefore apparently different
 [ origins.  Fascinating...  :)  -- Robbie


Key Words in Subject:  Dollar, Thaler

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page