The osella was Venice's answer to the New Year's gift — ducal largesse formalized into coinage. Each year the Doge distributed these silver pieces to members of the Maggior Consiglio in lieu of the wild ducks (uccelli) that earlier doges had sent from their hunting estates on the lagoon. Paolo Renier, elected Doge in 1779, would prove to be the second-to-last to hold the office; the Republic itself had fewer than fifteen years remaining when this piece was struck.
Annual production was intentionally limited, as oselle were presentation pieces rather than currency. The 1782 issue corresponds to the fourth year of Renier's dogeship.
The osella was Venice's answer to the New Year's gift — ducal largesse formalized into coinage. Each year the Doge distributed these silver pieces to members of the Maggior Consiglio in lieu of the wild ducks (uccelli) that earlier doges had sent from their hunting estates on the lagoon. Paolo Renier, elected Doge in 1779, would prove to be the second-to-last to hold the office; the Republic itself had fewer than fifteen years remaining when this piece was struck.
Annual production was intentionally limited, as oselle were presentation pieces rather than currency. The 1782 issue corresponds to the fourth year of Renier's dogeship.