W. C a r e w H a z l i t t Coinage of the European Continent

43O
The Coins of Europe
in the antecedent Catalogues in regard to this branch of the
matter and to the Venetian coinage generally. Political
changes or vicissitudes were constantly exerting their natural
influence in producing modifications and anomalies. The
title of the republic to her Adriatic provinces was successively
challenged by the Dukes of Austria, the Kings of
Hungary, and the Waiwodes of Transylvania ; and the
Venetian tenure of Ragusa is very faintly marked in a
monetary sense, since the coins of that city are almost
exclusively of a democratic type and of Oriental or Austrian
origin. 1
The Osella, in gold, silver, and bronze, was a loan from
the common continental usage of uniting
the attributes of
the Medal and the Coin, a piece available for both services,
and dates from the sixteenth century. A profusion of these
fine and attractive works of art came from the Venetian mint
down to the last days of independence, and indeed those of
more modern times were signalised by their sumptuousness
of style.
The celebrated Rossi Catalogue, 1880, describes
with great minuteness some of the most remarkable examples,
2
including the double oselle in gold. It is a question whether,
considering the phenomenally monotonous temper of the
ordinary series, this may not claim to be the salient feature
in the numismatic record ;
and some of the later specimens
offer the additional and rare attraction of a female portrait,
which may be probably that of the Dogaressa.
The Zecca (a Venetian form of Giudecca) or Mint at
Venice has not been often employed since the fall of the
republic. The piece of lo-lire Venete, 1797, and the revolutionary
money of 1 848-49, were struck there, however ;
and there is a centesimo of the kingdom of Italy, I 808, and
two of the Lombardo-Venetian kingdom, 1822 and 1834,
with the m.m. V.
The Venetian coinage, spreading over centuries, embraces
a fair proportion of rarities, among which we may quote
1
See Catalogue of Mints, v. " Ragusa," and Catalogue of Denominations, w.
" Artiluk,"
" Perpero,"
" Vizlin," etc.
2 See also Catalogue of Denominations, v. "Osella."