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The unique collection of Venetian Oselle will be exposed from March 7th to April 5th in the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, where the "Zecca di stato" (mint) was hosted during Serenissima Republic.

After more than 10 years of research, the Banca Popolare di Vicenza has collected all the series of coins minted since 1521 until the fall of the Venetian Republic. Every year the Doge used to donate these oselle to the most important Venetian noble families replacing the ancietn traditional gift that consisted of a pair of wild ducks from the Marano lagoon, thus the name 'Oselle', 'wild fowls' in local dialect.

The 275 oselle of the collection are considered the most beautiful coins in the world : on the front  they bore the image of the Doge in office at the time, kneeling before St. Mark and on the back they showed a commemorative image.


Information

Address: Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana - Piazzetta San Marco n.7 30124 Venezia (Entrance from the Museo Correr, Ala napoleonica of Piazza San Marco)
Web Site: http://marciana.venezia.sbn.it
Tel: +39.0.41.24.07.21.1
Opening times: from 7 March to 5 April, daily, 10am-5pm
Ticket: 'I Musei di Piazza San Marco'*: 12.00 €, reduction 6.50 €.
*Granting admission to Palazzo Ducale, Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Sale Monumentali della Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana.