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403481. Sold For $225

LOW COUNTRIES, Luik (Liège). Chapter of St. Lambert Cathedral. 17th-early 18th centuries. Æ Mereau (20mm, 4.28 g, 6h). Dated 1686. ECCLESI : · LEOD :, crossed bones; flames above and below / ANNIVERSARIVM, skull over crossed bones; 1686 in exergue. Renesse p. 72, 5. Good VF, brown patina.


Méreaux, or tokens, were employed in France and the Low Countries by the Church for various distributions. The word derives from the Latin merere, meaning “to deserve: deserving” holders of these tokens received bread or other foodstuffs, or later coins in exchange. These particular tokens were most likely used during the feast day celebrations surrounding the translation of St. Lambert’s remains to the cathederal

A member of a local noble family, St. Lambert of Maastricht (circa 636-700) was bishop of that city from 669 to 675, and again from 682 until his murder at Liége in 700. During Lambert’s episcopacy, he became caught up in the intrigues of the Merovingian court and was involved in the murder of Pepin of Herstal’s domesticus, Dodo. In retaliation, Dodo’s relations murdered Lambert. Buried first at his hometown of Maastricht, Lambert’s episcopal successor, Hubertus, subsequently had the remains transferred to Liége (the place of Lambert’s martyrdom and already a place of pilgrimage). Around the the shrine, a cathedral was constructed, which eventually became the seat of the archbishop until 1794, when it was demolished following the French Revolution.