Liege 1494 brule

Jean Elsen sale 158, lot 893

This specimen was lot 893 in Jean Elsen sale 158 (Brussels, March 2024), where it sold for €400 (about US$520 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"LIEGE, Principauté, Jean de Hornes (1485-1505), Cu brûlé, 1494, Hasselt. D/ Ecu de Hornes entouré de flammèches, au-dessus des écus de Looz et Bouillon. R/ MON'- FCA'- HAS'- I9 Croix longue ornée, cantonnée de deux lions et de deux cors. Rare. presque Très Beau. (prince-bishopric of Liège, Jean de Hornes, copper brulé of 1494, Hasselt mint. Obverse: arms of Hornes surround by flames, below, the arms of Looz and Bouillon; reverse: long ornate cross cantonned with two lions and two horns. Rare, about Very Fine.)"

The term brûlé is more of a nickname than a denomination and referred to a number of different low value copper coins such as sous, deniers, duits and liards. Most were carelessly made, with bad strikes on crude planchets being normal. This example, unusually, is dated. Jean de Hornes had to fight a local robber baron, Everard de la Marck, seigneur d'Arenberg, for his episcopal seat and was not acknowledged as bishop until 1492.

Reported Mintage: unknown.

Specification: copper, this specimen 1,47 g.

Catalog reference: Chestret 423; Dengis 802; Levinson II-134.

Source:

• ^[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:

• Liege 1488 1/2 aidant Everard de la Marck
• 1512 demi-patard
• Coins and currency dated 1494