Currencies/Liege teston
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Introduction
The Liège Teston was a silver coin issued in the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, circulating during the early 17th century as a medium-to-high denomination. It followed the European teston standard, derived from Italian and French coinage traditions, and symbolized Liège’s participation in regional trade networks.
History
The teston was introduced in Liège during the reign of Ernest of Bavaria (1581–1612), with known issues dated 1611–1612. It continued under Ferdinand of Bavaria (1612–1650), with coins struck in 1613 and later years. These issues coincided with Liège’s flourishing minting activity in silver denominations such as the escalin, patard, and patagon. The teston was primarily used for larger transactions, representing a value between the escalin and patagon in the principality’s silver coin hierarchy.
Coins
The Liège Teston featured detailed engraving typical of early 17th-century European coinage. The obverse often depicted the bust of the ruling prince-bishop—for example, Ernest of Bavaria or Ferdinand of Bavaria—with the Latin legend declaring episcopal authority.
The reverse usually bore the coat of arms of Liège, a cross, or other heraldic devices, accompanied by the date of minting. Examples include testons dated 1611–1613, struck in Liège and Bouillon mints.
Currency
The Liège currency system was based on the Florin Brabant–Liège, with the teston serving as a mid-range silver denomination.
1 Florin = 20 Sous
1 Sou = 3 Liards
The teston bridged smaller silver and copper coins such as the liard and escalin with higher denominations like the patagon and ducat.
Legacy
The Liège Teston reflects the principality’s integration into early modern European monetary circulation and its continuity of minting traditions under Bavarian rule. It remains one of the most representative 17th-century Liège silver coins.