Marienbourgish Thaler

Thaler
100 thalers note.
Denominations
Subunit
1/100	Groschen
Symbol	ȶ
Groschen	ɕ
Banknotes
Freq. used	ȶ5, ȶ10, ȶ20, ȶ50, ȶ100
Rarely used	ȶ30
Coins
Freq. used	ȶ1, 2ȶ, 5ȶ
Rarely used	5ɕ, 10ɕ, 50ɕ, 3ȶ
Demographics
Date of introduction	1 February 2023
User(s)	Marienbourg
Issuance
Central bank	Ducal Bank

The Marienbourgish Thaler (Portuguese: Thaler Marienburguês) is the official, domestic currency and legal tender of Marienbourg. It is subdivided into 100 groschens (abbreviated: ɕ). The Marienbourgish Thaler has its commercial value backed by the national reserve of Maria Theresa Thalers which, made of silver, are used as bullion coin and reserve currency. The conversion is done by fixed echange rate of 1ȶ per 1 milligram of silver.

Etimology

German taler is recorded from the 1530s, as an abbreviation of Joachimstaler. The silver mines at Joachimstal had opened in 1516, and the first coins bearing the name thaler were minted there. German -taler means "of the valley" (cf. Neanderthaler). By the late 16th century, the word was variously spelled as German taler, toler, thaler, thaller; Low German daler, dahler. In 18th to 19th-century German orthography, Thaler became standard. The name taler, thaler was soon used in compounds denoting various types of silver coins in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.

History

When the Duchy of Marienbourg was founded and proclaimed independent from Brazil on 26 December 2022, the Brazilian Real continued to be used, albeit without official status. The Marienbourgish Government, duly authorized, purchased a reserve of about half a kilo of silver in the form of twenty coins Maria Theresa Thaler. After the enactment of the constitution on February 1, 2023, the Ministry of the Treasury presented to parliament the project to create a national currency that provided for the adoption of the Maria Theresa Thalers reserve as bullion coins to back the currency to be created. Finally, on 1 May 2023 the Marienbourgish Thaler was formally established. Its name was derived from the bullion coin that backs it, and its exchange rate was fixed in silver weight. Together with the creation of the currency, the Treasury presented a project to establish a reserve of at least twice the value that the country has in bullion coins in order to avoid currency deflation.

The first series of Thaler notes was developed by the Duke Arthur V himself, inspired by a redesign project for the Euro notes, and the coin entered circulation in May 7, 2023. On the same date, the Ducal Diet approved the annual budget. The banknote series, however, was considered too abstract, and on June 2, 2023 the Duke presented the second series, with a unique style, featuring animals typical of the country. The new aesthetic project was unanimously approved by the Treasury Board and entered into circulation immediately, replacing the old series, whose serial numbers were canceled, rendering the notes worthless.

Monetary policy

The Ducal Bank, acting as Marienbourg's de facto central bank, is delegated authority by the government to set the monetary policy for the Thaler by controlling the availability of money in circulation. The institution also has a monopoly on the issuance of currency in order to control inflation. The currently enforced monetary policy consists of backing the value of currency to the value of the silver miligram through the store of value of 20 Maria Theresa Thalers that serve as bullion coin.The set fixed exchange rate is that of 1ȶ to 1 silver miligram. In this way, the Marienbourgish Thaler is a fully tradable currency, but cheap enough not to cause damage to the macroeconomically poor Marienbourgish economy.

Exchange rates and value

The Marienbourgish Thaler value is backed by the milligram of silver, from a reserve of 0.56 kilograms (or 560 grams) of silver in the form of bullion coins. The fixed exchange rate is that of 1 Thaler to 1 silver miligram (or 0.001 gram). Conversion to other currencies is done using the fluctuating trade value of the bullion.

Conversion diagram: 1 Thaler = 0.001 silver gram (1 miligram)

Year	Silver Miligram Exchange rate	MAT Exchange rate	BRL Exchange rate	USD Exchange rate	GBP Exchange rate	EUR Exchange rate
2023	1 miligram	ȶ1,00	R$0,004	$0,0007	£0,0006	€0,0007

Updated rates

As of 2023 a kilogram of silver costs 4034 BRL, 797 USD, 642 GBP or 731 EUR.

• 1ȶ = 1 mg = 0,004 BRL
• 2ȶ = 2 mg = 0,008 BRL
• 5ȶ = 5 mg = 0,02 BRL
• 10ȶ = 10 mg = 0,04 BRL
• 20ȶ = 20 mg = 0,08 BRL
• 50ȶ = 50 mg = 0,2 BRL
• 100ȶ = 100 mg = 0,4 BRL
• 500ȶ = 500 mg = 2 BRL
• 1000ȶ = 1g = 4 BRL

Banknotes

First series

The first series of Thaler banknotes were officially launched on 7 May 2023. The banknotes were designed by Duke Arthur V and approved by parliament in session that same day. The images used in the banknote design were abstract patterns with no particular representation, inspired by a Euro banknoted redesign project. The back of the notes has been standardized by determination of the Lord Treasurer, sanctioned by the President of the Ducal Bank. This series have been discontinued in 2 July 2023.

Extended content

Image Value Dimensions (millimetres) Main Colour Design Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse ȶ10 133.0 × 72.0 mm Carmine "Grid of colours and brush paint" (2023) by Simone Weil. "Grid of colours and brush paint" (2023) by Simone Weil. ȶ20 133.0 × 72.0 mm Forest "Grid of colours and brush paint" (2023) by Simone Weil. "Grid of colours and brush paint" (2023) by Simone Weil. ȶ50 133.0 × 72.0 mm Cadmium "Grid of colours and brush paint" (2023) by Simone Weil. "Grid of colours and brush paint" (2023) by Simone Weil. ȶ100 133.0 × 72.0 mm Pantone "Grid of colours and brush paint" (2023) by Simone Weil. "Grid of colours and brush paint" (2023) by Simone Weil.

Second series

The second series of Thaler banknotes were officially released on 2 July 2023. The banknotes were designed by Duke Arthur V and approved by Treasury Board that same day. The observe presents common Marienbourgish fauna, and the reverse a common Marienbourgish flora.

Image		Value	Dimensions (millimetres)	Main Colour		Design
Obverse	Reverse					Obverse	Reverse
		ȶ5	133.0 × 72.0 mm		Cadmium	The Neokotus Sanfranciscanus, ancient lizard typical of the geographical region of Marienbourg.	"Grid of colours and brush paint" (2023) by Simone Weil.
		ȶ10	133.0 × 72.0 mm		Cardinal	The White-Tailed Mouse, a rodent typical of the geographical region of Marienbourg.	"Grid of colours and brush paint" (2023) by Simone Weil.
		ȶ20	133.0 × 72.0 mm		Crayola	The Violaceus Euphonia, a passerine bird typical of the geographical region of Marienbourg.	"Grid of colours and brush paint" (2023) by Simone Weil.
		ȶ50	133.0 × 72.0 mm		Cadmium	The Manned wolf, a canine typical of the geographical region of Marienbourg.	"Grid of colours and brush paint" (2023) by Simone Weil.
		ȶ100	133.0 × 72.0 mm		Cardinal	The Pampas Deer, a rarely seen deer typical of the geographical region of Marienbourg.	"Grid of colours and brush paint" (2023) by Simone Weil.