Basel's basic currency unit was the livre (later franc or frank), divided into 10 batzen or 40 kreuzer.
In the late 18th century, the canton issued billon coins for 1⁄2, 1 and 3 Batzen, silver pieces of 1⁄6, 1⁄3, 1⁄2 and 1 Thaler, and gold Duplone and 1 and 2 Gulden.
The Bistum (Bishopric) issued silver Thaler for the first time in 1596.
These were the last Thaler-denominated coins issued by the Bishopric of Basel.
However, the Bishopric continued to issue billon coins, in denominations of 1⁄2 and 1 Batzen, and silver coins for 12 and 24 Kreuzer (3 and 6 Batzen).