Liege 1663 patagon Dav-4294
This specimen was lot 930 in Jean Elsen sale 158 (Brussels, March 2024), where it sold for €150 (about US$195 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"LIEGE, Principauté, Maximilien Henri de Bavière (1650-1688), AR patagon, 1663, Liège. Différent: rosette. D/ B. à d. R/ Ecu couronné. Traces d'ajustage au revers. Très Beau. (prince-bishopric of Liège, Maximilian Henry of Bavaria, 1650-88, silver patagon of 1663, Liège mint, rosette privy mark. Obverse: bust right; reverse: crowned arms. Traces of adjustment marks on the reverse, 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. The patagons of this reign turn up fairly often, being struck 1662-86. Most casual collectors of this state seeking a silver crown, end up with this one or one of Maximilian Henry's ducatons.
Maximilian Henry was the third 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.
- John Theodore, r. 1744-63, bishop of Regensburg (1719-63), Freising (1727-63) and Liège (1744-63).
Reported Mintage: unknown.
Specification: 28.10 g, 0.875 fine silver, this specimen 27,75 g.
Catalog reference: Dav-4294, KM 80, Chestret 639; Dengis 1101; Delm-471.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.
- [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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