Liege 1674 patagon Dav-4294
This specimen was lot 1331 in Jean Elsen sale 160 (Brussels, November 2024), where it sold for €140 (about US$177 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"LIEGE, Principauté, Maximilien Henri de Bavière (1650-1688), AR patagon, 1674. Différent: rosette. D/ B. à d. R/ Ecu couronné. Petite brisure du coin au revers. Très Beau. (prince-bishopric of Liège, Maximilian Henry of Bavaria, 1650-88, silver patagon of 1674, rose privy mark. Obverse: bust right; reverse: crowned arms. Small die break on the reverse, very fine.)"
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. This type was struck 1662-86 and is the most common crown from this state.
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).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 28.10 g, 0.875 fine silver, 40 mm diameter, this specimen is 27,78 g.
Catalog reference: KM 80, Dav-4294, Chestret 639; Delm-471; Dengis 1101.
- 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 160, Collection de deniers liegeois et Collection de monnaies d'or francaises, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2024.
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