Liege. John of Bavaria (1389-1418) gold Griffon d'Or ND (c. 1412) MS63+ NGC, Liege mint, Fr-286, Delm-316 (R3), Chestret-279, Plate XV. 3.88gm. +IOh'S: DЄ: BΛVΛIΛ: ЄL'C: LЄOD': ?: CO': LOS'S: (double saltire stops), Griffin seated left supporting shield of Bavaria and the Palatinate / +SIT: NOMЄN: DOMINI: BЄNЄDICTVM: X: hOC (double saltire stops), large cross fleury with shield of Bavaria at center, rampant lions in angles. Carefully depicting the mythical griffin in surprisingly lifelike proportions, this beautiful piece impresses with its fine execution. The flan is ever so slightly wavy and virtually full without evidence of chipping, almost fully centered and abundantly lustrous. Approaching the pinnacle of awarded grades with a single MS64 certified finer at NGC, and as such we anticipate keen interest from the most quality-minded collectors of late medieval gold. John of Bavaria, also known as John the Pitiless, was a member of the Wittelsbach dynasty and the first bishop of Liège 1389–1418. He never obtained the necessary ordination and treated his episcopal domain as a secular fief, earning his nickname for bloodily suppressing a rebellion of the Liège townspeople in 1408. After the death of his brother William in 1418, he gave up the ecclesiastical dignities and became a secular Count of Holland. He was known for the rich culture of his court; Jan van Eyck was among the artists he engaged, from at least 1422 until 1424. It is alleged that he was killed via the poisoned pages of a Ducal prayer-book in 1425 in The Hague. HID09801242017 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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