Schelling of Luik / Escalin of Liège

[Prosit]

This is a link to the types of Austria coins I have from 1800-1847
http://www.austriancoins.com/coins1800-1847.html

and my types from 1847-1891
http://www.austriancoins.com/coins1848-1891.html
I do have the two gulden/florin that commemorated the weding and it isn't pictured yet.

Definitely could use some work in that area and it is facinating. I have looked (not extremely seriously) for a small leige coin (Netherlands) that has the standing lion on it.  Haven't found a suitable example yet.  An have a very nice 1731 Spanish 2-reale, think it is 1731, anyway about the time of the War of Jenkins ear   

Dale

[Figleaf]

I have looked (not extremely seriously) for a small leige coin (Netherlands) that has the standing lion on it.  Haven't found a suitable example yet.

I think you mean an escalin (French) or schelling (Flemish) as pictured below (Vanhoudt G 1355). At the time, Luik was independent from the Spanish or (later) Austrian Netherlands. Whereas the prince-bishop of Li?ge (French) or Luik (Flemish) was usually the second son of the duke of Bavaria, the rulers of the Southern Netherlands were Habsburgs of Spain or Austria. Both were Roman Catholic and weary of the protestant Northern Netherlands but not in a position to do much about it. Luik was used as a convenient battlefield for religiously inspired wars, all the more because the bishops were excitable, but not very good military strategists.

In the all-important war of the Austrian succession the Spanish Habsburgs lost the Southern Netherlands to the Austrian Habsburgs, who had been fighting off Prussians and Bavarians. Apparently, the prince-bishops did not quite grasp what this meant, as they happily continued imitating the coins of the Southern Netherlands until they suddenly found themselves in front of an imperial court where the prosecutor and judge were an Austrian Habsburg and only their own lawyer was a Bavarian and they lost their mint right

The coin below is an imitation of much more common coins of the Southern Netherlands (e.g. Vanhoudt I 497 of the Spanish Netherlands pictured below). These are easier to find, though they are just as badly struck, so mostly in deplorable condition.

Peter

[Prosit]

Ok you guys.......  Looks like you caught be with my pants down or at least without my catalogues and talking about a coin I know little about.  Let me see if I can remember....and don't mistate myself.  What I was refering to (I think, still not near my references) is the Austrian-Netherlands Liard of about 1790...the standing lion with a hat on a spear/pole or whatever it is. A very simple uncluttered design with no lettering on the lion side.

Dale

[Prosit]

I have seen two since 1999     But of course my hobby fund was empty when I did.  They aren't rare but you just don't see nice ones often or I should say I don't.  Think therre was a 1 and 2 Liard with the same design.  Nice looking copper anyway!

Dale

[bart]

The insurrection 1 and 2 liards are indeed not rare: you can encounter them from time to time in Belgium, but, as Dale already mentioned, mostly in a pitiful condition.

I like the freedom design: a lion carrying a liberty hat, as a symbol of the independence of Belgium in 1790. Unfortunately, the politicians of that time quarreled a lot, so the Austrian Habsburgs could capture their lands back after less than a year. I am afraid our politicians didn't improve much in 217 years...

Bart

[Figleaf]

You probably meant this coin, Dale. It uses the similarity between the arms of Brabant and Flanders; only the colours differ. The specifications of the 1790 series are the same as those of the earlier and later series, issued by the Habsburgs.

Peter

[Aernout]

The double liard (2 liard) of United Belgian States (1790) has the Vanhoudt number: VH J63

mvg,
Aernout

[Figleaf]

Thanks, Aernout. I think all the coppers of the Southern Netherlands of this period are very hard to find in a reasonable condition (say VF.) I find that all the more a pity, because that includes a copper of Maria Theresa as a young woman, before she became rather ... uhhh ... inflated?

While Maria Theresa is best known in her matron role, I am fascinated by the early days of her reign, when she was able to win over Hungarian soldiers and noblemen with fiery, emotional speeches.

Peter

[Aernout]

I think all the coppers of the Southern Netherlands of this period are very hard to find in a reasonable condition (say VF.)

Indeed, by my copy of these 2 liards is edge worn

mvg,
Aernout