Liege (1538-44) 4 patards
The first specimen was lot 902 in Jean Elsen sale 158 (Brussels, March 2024), where it sold for €220 (about US$286 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"LIEGE, Principauté, Corneille de Berghes (1538-1544), AR quatre patards, s.d., Hasselt. D/ Armes de Berghes dans un cartouche. R/ Grande croix ornée. Griffes au revers. Très Beau. (prince-bishopric of Liège, Corneille de Berghes, 1538-44, undated quadruple patard, hasselt mint. Obverse: arms of the bishop in a cartouche; reverse: large ornate cross. Scratches on the reverse, Very Fine.)"
The second specimen was lot 1154 in Jean Elsen sale 158 (Brussels, March 2024), where it sold for €1,000 (about US$1,300 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"LIEGE, Principauté, Corneille de Berghes (1538-1544), AR quatre patards, s.d., Hasselt. Avec le titre de duc de Bouillon au droit. D/ CORNELI D' BER EPVS LEODE E DVX BVILLO' Armes de Berghes dans un cartouche. R/ CV DEVS- VOLVER-IT COM-ES LOSE' Grande croix ornée. De la plus haute rareté. Nettoyé. Fine fêlure du flan. Très Beau. (prince-bishopric of Liège, Cornelius of Berghes, 1538-44, undated four patards, Hasselt mint, with the title of duke of Bouillon on the obverse. Obverse: arms of Berghes in a cartouche; reverse: large ornate cross. Extremely rare, cleaned, fine flan crack, Very Fine.)"
The bishopric of Liège was an ecclesiastical state in central Belgium and usually ruled by a Hapsburg client. The surrounding territory was ruled by the Spanish Hapsburgs from about 1500 until 1699 and the Austrian Hapsburgs 1714-97. Wikipedia says of Corneille: "His reign was a disaster, because of his fanatic persecution of presumed heretics, which alienated himself from the population. He resigned in 1544 to get married. Very little was registered about the rest of his life and marriage, only that he died around 1560."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, the first specimen 5,36 g; the second specimen 4,59 g.
Catalog reference: the first specimen Chestret 461; Dengis 856; the second specimen Chestret 460 var.; Dengis 855 var. (unpublished obverse legend).
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 158, Monnaies de la Principauté de Liège, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.
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