The osella was Venice's annual New Year's gift coin, distributed by the Doge to members of the Signoria in lieu of the wild ducks (uccelli) once hunted on the lagoon islands — a practice formalized under Doge Leonardo Loredan in the early sixteenth century. Each year's issue carried a unique religious or political device, making the series a running chronicle of ducal priorities and Venetian self-image. Alvise Mocenigo IV held the dogeship from 1763 until his death in 1778, a tenure marked by Venice's increasingly futile attempts to maintain neutrality among the great powers.
Gold osellas of any reign are rare against the silver issues; most were struck in very small numbers for the highest-ranking recipients only.
The osella was Venice's annual New Year's gift coin, distributed by the Doge to members of the Signoria in lieu of the wild ducks (uccelli) once hunted on the lagoon islands — a practice formalized under Doge Leonardo Loredan in the early sixteenth century. Each year's issue carried a unique religious or political device, making the series a running chronicle of ducal priorities and Venetian self-image. Alvise Mocenigo IV held the dogeship from 1763 until his death in 1778, a tenure marked by Venice's increasingly futile attempts to maintain neutrality among the great powers.
Gold osellas of any reign are rare against the silver issues; most were struck in very small numbers for the highest-ranking recipients only.