Osella Pubblico Deposited
It was the custom in Venice at the time of the Republic for the Doge to make a present on New Year's Day to the members of the Council, said present consisting of birds (uccelli) . This practice was altered at the beginning of the sixteenth century by substituting a memorial coin of silver, which received the name Osella from the original gift.
The earliest of these was struck by Antonio grimani in 1522, and the custom was continued, with few interruptions, until 1797. These historical medals usually bear the name of the Doge and the regnal year, but otherwise they present a great variety of designs and inscriptions.
There were occasional issues struck in gold, the earliest being that of Alvise I, Mocenigo, dated 1571, on the naval victory at Lepanto. The Dogaressa also had the privilege of coining Oselle in her own name.
Of the many varieties the Osella di Murano bears a date instead of a regnal year. These occur as early as 1711. See Schmid, Clavis Numismatica (i. 13). Conf. also Werdnig, Die Osellen oder Munz-Medaillen der Republik Venedig. Wien, 1889.
- Frey's Dictionary (American Journal of Numismatics, Vol. 50, 1916)