Venice 1727-PQ osella
This specimen was lot 13258 in Ponterio sale 177 (Chicago, August 2013), where it sold for $1,998. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Venice. Osella, 1727. Alvise II Mocenigo (1722-32). Attractively toned. VERY FINE. From the Demarete Collection." 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 depicts the Bucentoro, the state galley of Venice. This one was also struck in gold (KM X254).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 8.58 g, silver, 34 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM X255, Paolucci-210; Gamberini-1373.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Unusual World Coins, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Ponterio sale 177: The August 2013 Chicago ANA Auction, World Coins, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers, LLC, 2013.
Links:
- Venice (1722-32) zecchino Fr.1379
- (1722-23)-VQ ducatone
- (1722-23)-VQ 15 zecchini, struck using scudo della croce dies
- (1722-23)-VQ scudo della croce, struck in gold of 10 zecchini weight
- Venice 1732 osella KM-X265 struck in silver
- Venice 1732 osella KM-X264 struck in gold
- Coins and currency dated 1727