Liege 1556 1/2 rixdaler
This specimen was lot 1078 in Jean Elsen sale 156 (Brussels, September 2023), where it sold for €2,800 (about US$3,593 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"LIEGE, Principauté, Georges d'Autriche (1544-1557), AR demi-daler à l'écu, 1556, Hasselt. Au titre de Charles Quint. D/ Cartouche orné aux armes de l'évêque, accosté de la date. R/ Aigle impériale éployée et couronnée. Extrêmement rare. Flan large. Belle patine. Très Beau. Provient de la collection A. Symkens, 25 novembre 1991. (principality of Liège, George of Austria, 1544-57, silver half dollar of the shield of 1556, Hasselt mint, struck in the name of Charles V. Obverse: arms of the bishop in an ornate cartouche, dividing the date; reverse: crowned imperial eagle. Extremely rare, large flan, beautiful patina, Very 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.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen is 14,08 g.
Catalog reference: Chestret 491; coll. Piat 306 (four examples known); Dengis 899; Delm-441.
- Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 156, Collection de Monnaies de la Principauté de Liège, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2023.
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