Venice 1747-ZAP osella KM-X294
This specimen was lot 3006 in Sincona Auction 101 (Zürich, October 2025), where it sold for 4,250 CHF (about US$6,406 including buyers' fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"ITALIEN Venedig, Pietro Grimani, 1741-1752. Osella da 4 Zecchini 1747 / Anno VII, PETRI / GRIMANI / PRINCIPIS / MVNVS / AN:VII / 1747 zwischen Zweigen. Rv. SANCTVS MARCVS VENETVS Markuslöwe, im Abschnitt *Z.A.P* (Zan Andrea Pasqualigo). Sehr selten. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. Fassungsspuren. (Italy, republic of Venice, Pietro Grimani, 1741-1752, osella of four zecchini of 1747, year 7. Obverse: doge's name and title under the doge's hat, within leafy branches; reverse: lion of St. Mark, mintmaster's initials in exergue. Very rare, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, Traces of jewelry.)"
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. This design was also struck in silver (KM X295, X296).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.96 g, gold, 36 mm diameter. this specimen 13.93 g.
Catalog reference: KM-X294, Montenegro 2685.
- 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]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 101: World Coins, Medals and Banknotes, Swiss Confederate Coins, Medals and Banknotes, Shooting Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2025.
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