Liege 1481 2 patards
The first specimen was lot 1080 in Jean Elsen sale 158 (Brussels, March 2024), where it sold for €1,600 (about US$2,081 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"LIEGE, Principauté, Louis de Bourbon (1456-1482), AR double patard, 1481, Liège ou Hasselt. Différent: croisette. D/ Deux lions affrontés sous un briquet. R/ + SALVV' FAC PO' TVVM DNE' LXXXI L'écu de l'évêque posé sur une croix fleuronnée ne coupant pas la légende. Flan large. Belle patine. Rare dans cette qualité. Très Beau à Superbe. Provient de la collection A. Symkens, Liège, 25 novembre 1991. (prince-bishopric of Liège, Louis of Bourbon, 1456-82, silver double patard of 1481, Liège or Hasselt mint, crosslet privy mark. Obverse: two lions facing over a firesteel; reverse: the arms of Bourbon over a short floriate cross. Large planchet, nie patina, rare in this quality, Very Fine - Extremely Fine.)"
The second specimen was lot 1081 in Jean Elsen sale 158 (Brussels, March 2024), where it sold for €200 (about US$260 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"LIEGE, Principauté, Louis de Bourbon (1456-1482), AR double patard, 1481, Liège ou Hasselt. Différent: tour. D/ Deux lions affrontés sous un briquet. R/ + SALVV' FAC PO' TVVM DNE' LXXXI L'écu de l'évêque posé sur une croix fleuronnée ne coupant pas la légende. Extrêmement rare. Frappe faible. Beau à Très Beau. (prince-bishopric of Liège, Louis of Bourbon, 1456-82, silver double patard of 1481, Liège or Hasselt mint, tower privy mark. Obverse: two lions facing over a firesteel; reverse: the arms of Bourbon over a short floriate cross. Extremely rare, weakly struck, Fine - Very Fine.)"
Louis de Bourbon was imposed upon the inhabitants of Liège by his uncle, the duke of Burgundy. He so exasperated his subjects that they expelled him three times. One of the grievances was his inveterate habit of uttering debased coin.
Reported Mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, the first specimen is 2,80 g; the second specimen is 2,93 g.
Catalog reference: the first specimen is Chestret 348; Dengis 698; Levinson II-61b. the second specimen is Chestret 349; Dengis 699; Levinson II-61b.
- Levinson, Robert, The Early Dated Coins of Europe, 1234-1500: An Illustrated Catalogue and Guide to dated medieval coinage. Clifton, NJ: Coin & Currency Institute, 2007.
- 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.
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