Liege 1751 plaquette

Jean Elsen sale 126, lot 651

This specimen was lot 651 in Jean Elsen sale 126 (Brussels, September 2015), where it sold for €140 (about US$187 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"LIEGE, Principauté, Jean Théodore de Bavière (1744-1763), AR plaquette, 1751. D/ Ecu couronné de l'évêque, sur une crosse et une épée en sautoir. R/ Ecu ovale de la principauté dans un cartouche orné. Rare dans cette qualité Fleur de Coin. (prince-bishopric of Liège, John Theodore of Bavaria, 1744-63, silver plaquette of 1751. Obverse: crowned arms of the bishop over a sword and crozier; reverse: oval arms of the principality in an ornate cartouche. Rare in this quality, uncirculated.)"

The SCWC does not give the face value of this type struck 1751-52 but, assuming it is good silver and based on the reported weight, it appears to be one twelfth of a patagon or four sols. This is the only issue of this denomination, the escalin or six sols being more usually struck. The bishopric of Liège was an enclave within and surrounded by the Austrian Netherlands and was invaded and annexed by revolutionary France in 1795. It is now part of Belgium.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: silver, 21 mm diameter, this specimen 2,25 g.

Catalog reference: KM 152, Chestret 682; Dengis 1174.

Source:

• Jean-Luc Dengis, Les Monnaies de la Principauté de Liege, 3 vols. Wetteren: Moneta, 2006.
• Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
• ^[1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 126, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils, S.A., 2015.

Link to:

• 1750 double liard, with cardinal's hat
• Liege 1751 liard
• Liege 1751 4 liards
• 1752 double liard
• 1752 plaquette
• 1752 escalin
• 1753 double escalin
• Liege 1763 patagon Dav-1588
• Coins and currency dated 1751
• return to coins of Liège