Liard - Léopold I

Features

Obverse

Effigy of the Duke of Lorraine

Lettering: LEOP·I·D·G·D·LOT·B·R·IE 

Translation: Leopold I, for God's grace, Duke of Lorraine and Bar, King of Jerusalem 

Reverse

Currency inscription preceded by a simplified Jerusalem Cross and followed by an alerion.

Lettering: 
LIARD
DE
LORRAINE
17 27 

Edge

Smooth

Comments

Leopold I is the son of Charles V (1642-1690), a lackland duke. Unlike his father, he managed taking back his Duchy after the Ryswick treatees signed on October 30th, 1697. The following year he spoused Charlotte of Orleans, niece of Louis XIV of France, making Leopold I torn in two, between his 2 families: in one side, the French reigning family of his wife, and in the other side, his own family, whose uncle and cousins ruled over the Archiduchy of Austria and as Holy Roman Emperors. 

This coin is clearly inspirated by the Liard de France, proof of the growing influence of the Kingdom of France over Lorraine.

Even Lorraine was simply a Duchy, the Duke Leopold Ier wore the title of King on his coins, plaiming himself heir of Godefroy de Bouillon, former King of Jerusalem. This also explains the use of a Jerusalem cross on the reverse.

Examples of varieties of the obverse lettering : 

• B.REX.I
  
• B.REX.IE
  
• BA.R.IE
  
• BA.REX.I