Liege (1565) 5 patards
This specimen was lot 1091 in Jean Elsen sale 156 (Brussels, September 2023), where it sold for €1,200 (about US$1,540 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"LIEGE, Principauté, Gérard de Groesbeeck (1564-1580), AR sprenger (cinq patards), s.d. (1565), Hasselt. D/ L'écu de l'évêque sous un heaume à cimier. R/ Croix feuillue et ornée, coupant la légende. Très rare. Fine fêlure du flan. Belle patine. Très Beau à Superbe. Provient de la collection A. Symkens, 25 novembre 1991; de la collection Bovier et de Dupriez, Bruxelles, 7 novembre 1912, 2186. (principality of Liège, Gérard de Groesbeeck, 1564-80, undated silver sprenger or five patards, Hasselt mint. Obverse: helmeted arms of the bishop; reverse: ornate leafy cross cutting the legend. Very rare, fine planchet crack, beautiful patina, Very Fine to Extremely Fine.)
"De naturel prudent, Gérard de Groesbeeck s'attacha à maintenir la principauté de Liège en dehors de la guerre de religion qui dévastait les Pays-Bas. Il fit poursuivre les réformés et dut soumettre par les armes Hasselt, Saint-Trond, Tongres et Maastricht où les protestants étaient majoritaires mais il fit ensuite preuve de clémence à leur égard. Lorsque les Etats Généraux se soulevèrent contre Philippe II en 1576, Gérard de Groesbeeck proclama la neutralité de la principauté de Liège. Malgré les pressions de l'Espagne, il refusa de renouveler l'alliance de 1518, craignant que ses Etats ne soient dévastés par les armées des deux camps s'il entrait dans le conflit. Sous son règne, le comté de Hornes, devenu vacant suite à la décapitation de Philippe de Montmorency, revint à la principauté. L'évêque devint aussi abbé de Stavelot en 1576. (Naturally cautious, Gérard de Groesbeeck endeavored to keep the principality of Liège out of the religious war which was devastating the Netherlands. He had the Protestants persecuted and had to subdue by force Hasselt, Saint-Trond, Tongres and Maastricht where the Protestants were in the majority but he then showed clemency towards them. When the States General rose up against Philip II in 1576, Gérard de Groesbeeck proclaimed the neutrality of the principality of Liège. Despite pressure from Spain, he refused to renew the alliance of 1518, fearing that his domain would be devastated by the armies of both camps if he entered into the conflict. Under his reign, the county of Hoorn, which had become vacant following the beheading of Philippe de Montmorency, returned to the principality. The bishop also became abbot of Stavelot in 1576.)"
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. The patard was equivalent to the Dutch stuiver.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen is 7,05 g.
Catalog reference: Chestret 511; Dengis 925; Delm-450.
- 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 156, Collection de Monnaies de la Principauté de Liège, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2023.
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