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1 Osella - Francesco Morosini
| Issuer | Republic of Venice |
|---|---|
| Year | 1688-1694 |
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| Currency | Lira (1618-1752) |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | The winged Lion of St. Mark is depicted passant left in high relief, its nimbus rendered with fine detail, its right forepaw resting upon an open book inscribed with a devotional text in multiple lines; the lion's tail curves dramatically upward toward the right field. The composition fills the broad plain field within a prominent beaded border, with no peripheral legend, conforming to the standard osella reverse type associated with Venetian ducal presentation pieces. |
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| Additional information |
The osella was Venice's answer to a tradition that predated coinage entirely — doges had long gifted wild birds (oselle) to the Great Council each New Year. When the bird supply grew impractical, struck silver pieces replaced them, beginning in 1521. Gold osellas were rarer still, reserved for diplomatic presentations and extraordinary recipients rather than routine distribution to councillors.
Francesco Morosini's tenure as Doge followed his recapture of the Peloponnese from the Ottomans — the most significant Venetian military victory in a generation — and his osellas reflect that political capital. The Senate elected him Doge in absentia in 1688 while he was still commanding in the field.