1744 Liard From Liege

Very very nice!

It's a single year issue as indicated by 'sede vacante' (empty seat) and this coin isn't french. Liège was an independent state ruled by a Prince-Bishop. A new one was to be appointed in 1744. Liège was bordering the Austrian Netherlands to the north and Duchy of Luxemburg to the south, both of which were part of the Holy Roman Empire.

http://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces17529.html

1744 issues of the Liard were also minted under the new ruler John Theodore, and of those, there were two distinct types, one with the date on the obverse and one on the reverse.

Indeed, I've got a (lousy) 1744 minted under John Theodore of Bavaria with the date on the reverse (separate digits in four quadrants):
http://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces22120.html

Liège as an independant state ceased to exist as the french revolution spilled over its borders and Napoleon started expanding the empire.

Quite remarkably, this coin has remained legal tender under successive governments:

1796-1815: under French rule, used as 2 centimes of a franc.
1815-1830: under Dutch rule, used as 1 cent of a guilder.
1830-1840; under Belgian rule, again used as 2 centimes of a Belgian franc.