Liege 1671 patagon Dav-4294
This specimen was lot 864 in Jean Elsen sale 108 (Brussels, March 2011) where it sold for 190 euros (about US$312 including buyer's fee). The catalog description[1] noted,
"LIEGE, Principauté, Maximilien Henri de Bavière (1650-1688), AR patagon, 1671, Droit : B. à droite. Revers: Ecu couronné. Ref.: Traces de monture au revers. Belle patine. presque Superbe" (Prince-Bishopric of Liege, Maximilian Henry of Bavaria (1650-88), silver patagon of 1671. Obverse: bust facing right; reverse: crowned arms. Traces of mounting on the reverse, nice patina, nearly Extremely Fine.)
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. Patagons were issued in the Spanish Netherlands and associated states (including the bishopric of Liège and Franche Comte) during the seventeenth century, where they competed with French écus, German talers and Dutch daalders and ducatons. Maximilian Henry was Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, Bishop of Hildesheim and Bishop of Liège, succeeding his uncle, Ferdinand of Bavaria. He usually sided with Louis XIV in his wars against the Dutch and the emperor. The type shown here was struck 1662-86. The SCWC notes it worth about the same as the larger silver ducaton.
Reported Mintage: unknown.
Specification: 28.1 g, 0.875 fine silver, .790 troy oz ASW, this specimen 27.75 g.
Catalog reference: KM 80, Dav-4294, Chestret, 639; 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 108, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2011.
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