Liege 1586 12 sols
This specimen was lot 924 in Jean Elsen sale 158 (Brussels, March 2024), where it sold for €130 (about US$169 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"LIEGE, Principauté, Ernest de Bavière (1581-1612), Cu brûlé de 12 sols, 1586, Maaseik. D/ B. à d., le col fraisé. R/ Ecu couronné, écartelé de Bavière-Palatinat, entre deux rosettes. En dessous, la valeur XII. Petit éclat du flan. Patine vert foncé. Rare dans cette qualité. Très Beau à Superbe. (prince-bishopric of Liège, Ernest of Bavaria, 1581-1612, cupper brulé of twelve sols of 1586, Maaseik mint. Obverse: bust right in ruffed collar; reverse: crowned and quartered arms of Bavaria and the Palatinate between two rosettes, the value below. Small rim nick, hamdsome green patina, rare in this quality, Very Fine - Extremely Fine.)"
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.
Reported Mintage: unknown.
Specification: copper, this specimen 2,76 g.
Catalog reference: Chestret 555; Dengis 983.
- [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:
- 1583 brûlé de 12 sols, Maaseik mint
- 1584 brûlé de 12 sols (gigot) = ½ liard
- (15)86 demi-ernestus = 3 patards
- 1590 brûlé de 8 sols (tiers de liard)
- (1594) brûlé de 12 sols copper piedfort
- Coins and currency dated 1586