Venice 1708-HAL osella KM-X222
This specimen was lot 42593 in Stack's Bowers Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction (Pittsburgh, September 2026), where it sold for $2,440. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Venice. Osella, 1708-HAL Year VIIII. Venice Mint. Alvise Mocenigo II. PCGS AU-50. Featuring a rose in full bloom upon the reverse, this lightly circulated specimen offers some subtle toning paired with an otherwise gunmetal gray nature and alluring brilliance remaining among the protected areas." 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, "SOLVM PROVOCATA FERIT", translates as, "It strikes only when provoked." We presume the refernce is to the thorns on the rose. The dies were used to strike KM X221 in gold.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 9.47-9.69 g, silver, 35 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KMX-222; Paolucci-191.
- 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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