What does the term "crown" mean?

SethChandler

Is it slang for a large foreign silver coin?

tbirde56

One definition is of a coin that is 38-40 millimeters in diameter.

satootoko

Originally a "crown" was an English silver 5 shilling piece, about 38mm in diameter. As many countries began issuing similar sized silver, and they began circulating extensively in international trade - especially Asia, Africa and the Middle East - the name became generic for silver coins approximately that size. Notable examples are the Maria Therese Thaler, the pre-SBA U.S. Dollar, the Meiji/Taisho era Japanese ¥1, and U.S., English and Japanese Trade Dollars.