Venice 1795-FZ osella
This specimen was lot 13259 in Ponterio sale 177 (Chicago, August 2013), where it sold for $2,115. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Venice. Osella, 1795. NGC MS-65. Ludovico Manin (1789-97). Sharply struck, toned and very attractive. 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 obverse Venice's survival in the stormy era of the French Revolution. This one was also struck in piefort format (KM X389). Venice's independence was abruptly terminated in 1797, when Napoleon traded it to Austria in exchange for Belgium.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 9.74 g, silver, 31-33 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM X390, CNI-VIII, pg.558#160; Paolucci-278.
- 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.
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