Liege (1419-55) griffin

Jean Elsen sale 158, lot 1056

This specimen was lot 1056 in Jean Elsen sale 158 (Brussels, March 2024), where it sold for €280 (about US$364 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"LIEGE, Principauté, Jean de Heinsberg (1419-1455), AR griffon, s.d., Liège. D/ Griffon assis à g., ten. l'écu écartelé de l'évêque. R/ Croix pattée coupant la légende, cantonnée de quatre lions, posée sur un quadrilobe. Chaque bras entre deux rosettes. Au centre, un écusson au lion dans un quadrilobe. Très rare. Belle patine. Légères traces de corrosion au droit. La tranche irrégulière. Très Beau. Provient de Jean Elsen, novembre 1984, et de la collection A. Symkens, Liège, 25 novembre 1991. (prince-bishopric of Liège, Jean de Heinsberg, 1419-55, undated silver griffin, Liège mint. Obverse: a griffin seated left, supporting the quartered arms of the bishop; reverse: a cross pattée cuts the legends, cantonned with four lions, posed over a quadrilobe, each arm between two rosettes; at the center, an escutcheon with a lion in a quadrlobe. Very rare, nice patina, light traces of corrosion on the obverse, irregular edge, very Fine.)"

Jean de Heinsberg was elected prince-bishop at the age of 22 years altho not yet ordained a priest. This obstacle was swiftly dealt with and he assumed his duties in June 1420. In 1455, Philip the Good of Burgundy, seeking a place for his nephew Louis of Bourbon, forced bishop Jean to resign in Louis' favor. Jean died in 1459, allegedly leaving behind 65 children. He was descended from the formerly independent counts of Loon.

Reported Mintage: unknown.

Specification: silver or billon, this specimen 1,68 g.

Catalog reference: Chestret 308; Dengis 643.

Source:

Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
^[1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 158, Monnaies de la Principauté de Liège, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.

Link to:

Liege (1419-55) griffin

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