Liege 1681 ducaton Dav-4296
This specimen was lot 1195 in Jean Elsen sale 156 (Brussels, September 2023), where it sold for €440 (about US$565 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
" LIEGE, Principauté, Maximilien Henri de Bavière (1650-1688), AR ducaton, 1681, Liège. Différent: perron. D/ B. à d., vêtu du manteau d'électeur et coiffé d'une calotte. R/ Ecu couronné, soutenu par deux lions. Patine foncée. Très Beau. (principality of Liège, Maximilian Henry of Bavaria, 1650-88, silver ducaton of 1681, Liège mint, column privy mark. Obverse: bust right, dressed in an elector's mantle and a skullcap; reverse: crowned arms supported by two lions. Nice patina, Very Fine.)"
The bishopric of Liège was an ecclesiastical state in central Belgium. The surrounding territory was ruled by the Spanish Hapsburgs from about 1500 until 1699 and the Austrian Hapsburgs 1714-97. This type was struck 1666-83. Most casual collectors seeking a silver crown from this state, end up with this one or the patagon from Maximilian Henry's reign.
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: silver, this specimen is 32,15 g.
Catalog reference: KM 84, Dav-4296, Chestret 641; Dengis 1105; Delm-473.
- 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 156, Collection de Monnaies de la Principauté de Liège, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2023.
Link to: