Liege Liard

The Liege Liard's most striking feature is its depiction of the prince-bishop's arms, which often included a lion or a crozier, symbolizing the uneasy blend of church and state in a region prone to invasions.

These copper coins were minted in the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, a territory that straddled modern Belgium and the Netherlands, from the late 15th century onward. Struck on uneven planchets that sometimes showed traces of earlier coins, they reflected the practical recycling common in that era's mints. While designs varied by ruler—say, under Erard de la Marck or his successors—the obverse typically bore the bishop's insignia, and the reverse a simple cross.

Exact mintage figures are murky; records from the period were spotty, and many were destroyed in later conflicts. Still, these liards turned up in hoards across Europe, underscoring their widespread use.

A word to the wise: if you're hunting for one, don't expect it to fetch a fortune. They were, after all, the pocket change of peasants.