Liege (1606) gigot KM-7
This specimen was lot 1131 in Jean Elsen sale 156 (Brussels, September 2023), where it sold for €170 (about US$218 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"LIEGE, Principauté, Ernest de Bavière (1581-1612), Cu gigot (demi-liard), s.d. (1606), Maaseik. Différent: gland. D/ B. à g., t. nue, la barbe longue. R/ Ecu couronné, écartelé de Bavière-Palatinat. Ecusson de Looz en début de légende. Très rare. Très Beau. Provient de notre vente 117, 15 juin 2013, 1290 et de la collection J.-J. Symoens. (principality of Liège, Ernest of Bavaria, 1581-1612, undated copper gigot or half liard, circa 1606, Maaseik mint, berry privy mark. obverse: bare bust left with long beard; reverse: crowned and quartered arms of Bavaria and the Palatinate, the shield of Looz at the beginning of the legend. Very rare, Very Fine.)"
The bishopric of Liège was an ecclesiastical state in central Belgium. The surrounding territory was ruled by the Spanish Hapsburgs from about 1500 until 1699 and the Austrian Hapsburgs 1714-97. This example is closest to KM 7 but the obverse legend states, "ERNESTVS D G ARCHIEPS COL" instead of "ERNESTVS DVX BAVARIE".
Ernest was the first of four prince-bishops from Bavaria. They were also dukes of Bouillon, archbishops of Cologne and electors of the Empire, all of which titles appeared in various combinations on their coins. They are as follows:
- Ernest, r. 1581-1612, archbishop of Cologne (1583-1612), bishop of Münster (1584-1612), Freising, Hildesheim and Liège.
- Ferdinand, r. 1612-50, archbishop of Cologne, bishop of Münster, Hildesheim, Paderborn (1618-50) and Liège. Never ordained as a priest.
- Maximilian Henry, r. 1650-88, archbishop of Cologne, bishop of Münster, Hildesheim and Liège. Lost the duchy of Bouillon to Louis XIV.
- Joseph Clement, r. 1688-1723, bishop of Regensburg and Freising (1685-94) and archbishop of Cologne, bishop of Hildesheim (1702-23) and Liège (1694-1723).
- Clemens August, r. 1723-61, bishop of Regensburg (1716-19) and then archbishop of Cologne, bishop of Münster, Hildesheim, Osnabrück and Paderborn but never ruled in Liège. His incompetence and extravagance ended Wittelsbach rule in Cologne.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: copper, this specimen is 2,00 g.
Catalog reference: KM 7, Chestret 570; Dengis 993.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [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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