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1 Osella - Alvise Mocenigo III
| Issuer | Republic of Venice |
|---|---|
| Year | 1727 |
| Type | Non-circulating coin |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | The Bucentoro, the ceremonial state galley of Venice, sails majestically to the left, its oars extended and hull richly detailed; four gondolas are depicted alongside. Above, a radiant sun emerges from billowing clouds, symbolising divine favour over the Serenissima. The date 1727 appears in the exergue, flanked by decorative stops, beneath a biblical motto alluding to the incomparable glory of Venice. |
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| Additional information |
The osella was never legal tender in the strict sense — it originated as an annual gift of wild birds (uccelli) that the Doge was obligated to distribute to members of the Great Council, a tradition monetized into struck silver pieces in 1521 and only rarely produced in gold. A gold osella was a deliberate departure, issued as a diplomatic or honorific object rather than anything destined for ordinary exchange. Alvise Mocenigo III's dogeship ran from 1722 to 1732, a period of Venetian political quietude masking serious fiscal strain from the costly wars against the Ottomans of the preceding decades.
Gold specimens of any osella year are substantially rarer than their silver counterparts.