Venice (1687)-LP osella KM-X186
This specimen was lot 42592 in Stack's Bowers Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction (Pittsburgh, September 2026), where it sold for $732. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Venice. Osella, Year 4 (1687)-LP. Marc Antonio Giustinian. PCGS Genuine--Tooled, EF Details. Regardless of the noted tooling, this Osella provides bold details, appealing deep tone, and much charm retained." Oselli are unique to Venice; they are medals in nature, serving as commemoratives or awards of merit, but often circulated as the republic did not issue much silver in this size. Hundreds of designs exist. The closest analog are the jetons of France, which began as reckoning counters but evolved into commemoratives similar to this. The reverse legend translates as "Both alone and together." We speculate that it was issued to celebrate successes in the war against the Turks, which broke out in 1684. By the treaty of Karlowitz of 1699, Venice was awarded the Morea (Peloponnese) in Greece but surrendered it again in 1718. The dies were used to strike KM X185 in gold.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 9.47-9.69 g, silver, 35 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-X186, Paolucci-170; CNI-82.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Unusual World Coins, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- Rafaele Paolucci, La Zecca di Venezia, 2 vols. Padua, 1991.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2026.
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