Chapter IV

Commemorative Coins

Page 3
1981 - 1990
IS = Sheqel, Sheqalim (through 1985)
NIS = New Sheqel, New Sheqalim (from 1986)

1981

PEOPLE OF THE BOOK
33rd Anniversary of Independence
1981 / 5741

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

xxVALUExx
USD

112.1

2 IS

BU

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

inscribed

obv. Star

Ottawa

16,316

Edge inscription: "33rd Year of the State of Israel" in archaic Hebrew.
Mintmark below book on obv.

28.00

112.2

2 IS

Proof

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

inscribed

obv. 'Mem'

Ottawa

11,317

35.00

113

10 IS

Proof

gold

.900

30.0

17.28

reeded

obv. 'Mem'

Ottawa

5,634

Mintmark below book on obv.

1,100.00

The "Book of Books" was given to the Jewish People, who are therefore called "The People of the Book". The Bible was written in Hebrew, one of the oldest written and spoken languages in the world.
The 33rd Anniversary of Independence coin shows on its obverse an open book, with the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet shooting up from its pages like a flame.

POLISH LAMP
Hanukka Series
1981 / 5742

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

116.1

1 IS

BU

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

plain

obv. Star

Paris

16,115

Mintmark left of lamp base on obv.

16.00

116.2

1 IS

Proof

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

reeded

obv. 'Mem'

Stuttgart

11,186

18.00

The Polish Jewish community was among the oldest in Europe, approximately one thousand years old. The Jews of Poland experienced periods of suffering and anti-Jewish riots and measures over the centuries. Nevertheless, their numbers kept increasing to become the largest Jewish community in the world. All that ended abruptly during the Holocaust, when all but the entire Jewish population was annihilated in the Nazi extermination camps. After the Second World War, a tiny Jewish presence re-emerged, only to be confronted by perseverant antisemitism, and even sporadic pogroms. After 1967 the already small Jewish community dwindled even further. During the first half of the twentieth century, several waves of Polish Jews emigrated to Palestine and later Israel, where they became a major driving force behind the nation's development.

The coin depicts a 60 cm high silver Hanukka Lamp made in 1854, during a period in which Jewish silver and goldsmiths flourished all over Poland. A swan adorns the top of the stem, and below an embossed flower.

1982

EDMOND DE ROTHSCHILD
34th Anniversary of Independence
1982 / 5742

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

117.1

2 IS

BU

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

inscribed

rev. Star

Paris

13,272

Edge inscription: "34th Year of the State of Israel" in archaic Hebrew.
Mintmark above denomination on rev.

28.00

117.2

2 IS

Proof

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

inscribed

rev. 'Mem'

Stuttgart

9,506

30.00

120

10 IS

Proof

gold

.900

30.0

17.28

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Ottawa

4,875

Mintmark above denomination on rev.

1,100.00

The titles "Father of the Yishuv" and "The Famous Contributor" belong to the same person, Baron Edmond de Rothschild, whose involvement with the development of Jewish settlements in Eretz Israel started in 1882, during the First Aliya, the first wave of immigration. Rothschild's activities helped lay the foundation of Jewish agriculture, and had a major impact on agricultural development, during his lifetime and after his death.

The effigy of Edmond de Rothschild graces this coin, celebrating 100 years since he started to sponsor Jewish agricultural settlement in the Land of Israel.

QUMRAN CAVES
Historical Sites of the Holy Land Series
1982 / 5753

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

121

½ IS

BU

silver

.850

23.0

07.2

plain

rev. Star

Paris

15,151

All coins have a 12-sided edge.

12.00

122

1 IS

Proof

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Munich

9,000

22.00

125

5 IS

Proof

gold

.900

22.0

08.63

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Munich

4,927

550.00

The Dead Sea scrolls consist of roughly 900 documents, including texts from the Hebrew Bible, discovered between 1947 and 1956 in eleven caves in and around Wadi Qumran on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea, some 24 km (15 miles) east of Jerusalem. The texts are of great religious and historical significance, as they include practically the only known surviving copies of biblical documents made before 100 AD, and preserve evidence of considerable diversity of belief and practice within late Second Temple Judaism. Many of the scrolls are now housed in the Shrine of the Book, part of the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

The coin's obverse depicts the cliffs, location of the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Above the cliffs, the coin's surface is adorned with ancient writings as they appear on the scrolls.

YEMEN LAMP
Hanukka Series
1982 / 5743

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

123

1 IS

BU

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

plain

rev. Star

Paris

14,475

18.00

124

2 IS

Proof

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Stuttgart

8,996

30.00

The Jews of Yemen belonged to one of the most ancient Diaspora communities. In spite of periods of Muslim persecution, Yemeni Jews always maintained ties with other Jewish centers. Jewish emigration to the Land of Israel started in 1882, and soon after the establishment almost all remaining Jews left Yemen for their old-new homeland. Yemenite Jewish culture, religious worship and tradition, as well as the Hebrew dialect spoken by Jews in Yemen, are now regarded as closer to those of Jews in biblical times than any other Jewish center in the entire world.

The 1982 Hanukka coin celebrates the centenary of the first substantial influx of Jews from Yemen to Eretz Israel. Its obverse depicts an old stone Yemenite Hanukka Lamp, flanked by the biblical quotation "I will rise as a date palm" (Song of Songs 7:8).

1983

VALOUR
35th Anniversary of Independence
1983 / 5743

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

127

1 IS

BU

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

inscribed

rev. Star

Stuttgart

14,742

Edge inscription: "35th Year of the State of Israel" in archaic Hebrew.

18.00

130

2 IS

Proof

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

inscribed

rev. 'Mem'

Stuttgart

9,999

30.00

133

10 IS

Proof

gold

.900

30.0

17.28

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Bern

3,814

1,100.00

Israel's 35th Anniversary of Independence coins are dedicated to Zahal, the Israel Defense Forces. The IDF was established on 28th May 1948, just two weeks after the proclamation of independence on 14th May.
The coin's obverse shows the IDF emblem against a sculpted Star of David as background, and the acronym 'Zahal' (Zva Hagana Le-Israel - Israel Defense Forces).

HERODION FORTRESS
Historical Sites of the Holy Land Series
1983 / 5744

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

126

½ IS

BU

silver

.850

23.0

07.2

plain

rev. Star

Munich

11,044

All coins have a 12-sided edge.

12.00

128

1 IS

Proof

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Munich

10,372

22.00

132

5 IS

Proof

gold

.900

22.0

08.63

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Munich

4,346

550.00

Herod I (aka Herod the Great) reigned from 37 until 4 BC. Also known as "The Builder King", major projects such as the temple in Jerusalem, the port-city of Caesarea, and the Massada fortress, are attributed to him.

This coin depicts the Herodion fortress, which houses the remains of the only palace that immortalizes Herod's name. The fortress was built exactly on the spot where he - heir to the Herodian dynasty - defeated the last king of the Hasmonean dynasty. Herod's palace is the third largest discovered in the entire Roman world.

PRAGUE LAMP
Hanukka Series
1983 / 5744

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

129

1 IS

BU

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

plain

rev. Star

Paris

12,777

18.00

131

2 IS

Proof

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Bern

10,894

30.00

Prague, ancient and modern capital of the Czech Republic, was a major Jewish center since the 10th century AD. Its world-famous Jewish landmark, the Alt-Neu Synagogue was constructed in 1270. The period between the 16th and 19th century is known as the Golden Age of Prague's Jewish community.

The coin's obverse is graced by a Hanukka Lamp from Prague, dating back to the 18th century. 

1984

KINSMEN (BROTHERHOOD)
36th Anniversary of Independence
1984 / 5744

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

135

1 IS

BU

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

inscribed

rev. Star

Paris

9,476

Edge inscription: "36th Year of the State of Israel" (in archaic Hebrew), and "For We Are Kinsmen" in English.

18.00

136

2 IS

Proof

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

inscribed

rev. 'Mem'

Stuttgart

8,551

30.00

138

10 IS

Proof

gold

.900

30.0

17.28

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Ottawa

3,798

1,100.00

The theme of "Kinsmen", or Brotherhood, appears early in the Old Testament, with the invocation of "Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself". The Talmud refers on many occasions to the need for practicing love, brotherhood, peace and friendship amongst ourselves, kinsmen.

The 36th Anniversary of Independence coin symbolizes these sacred pledges by showing a filigree likeness of branches and roots

KIDRON VALLEY
Historical Sites of the Holy Land Series
1984 / 5745

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

140

½ IS

BU

silver

.850

23.0

07.2

plain

rev. Star

Paris

7,538

All coins have a 12-sided edge.

15.00

141

1 IS

Proof

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Stuttgart

6,798

28.00

142

5 IS

Proof

gold

.900

22.0

08.63

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Bern

2,601

550.00

The Kidron Valley, also known as the Valley of Jehoshaphat, and the Valley of Fire, forms the slope between the Temple Mount and the City of David, the spot were Jerusalem was first inhabited, and the Mount of Olives. Since Biblical days and the realm of King David, the Kidron Valley has played a major role in Jerusalem's history. The scenery in and around the valley offers a glimpse of ancient Jerusalem, as the Kidron Valley remains almost untouched by modern development. The best known ancient structure in the valley is Absalom's Pillar (11th or 10th century BC), mentioned in II Samuel 18:18: "And Absalom erected a pillar for himself."

The coin's obverse shows the Kidron Valley with Absalom's Pillar in the foreground, and the Mount of Olives in the background.

THERESIENSTADT LAMP
Hanukka Series
1984 / 5745

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

144

1 IS

BU

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

plain

rev. Star

Paris

9,460

18.00

145

2 IS

Proof

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Bern

9,225

30.00

In 1981 a unique Hanukka Lamp was presented to Yad Vashem, Israel's national Holocaust Memorial Center near Jerusalem, by an anonymous US donor. This historical piece of simple art was made of automobile parts and scrap metal by an unknown craftsman in the Nazi ghetto city of Theresienstadt (Terezin in the present-day Czech Republic).

The coin depicts the Theresienstadt Hanukka Lamp, now part of the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial collection. As a chilling coincidence, the 5745/1984-dated coin was issued almost exactly 40 years after one of the Holocaust's most bizarre enactments, when in mid-1944 a high-ranking Red Cross delegation visited Theresienstadt in a Nazi-orchestrated and choreographed effort to dispel rumors about the mass-extermination of Jews.

1985

SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS
37th Anniversary of Independence
1985 / 5745

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

148

1 IS

BU

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

inscribed

rev. Star

Paris

8,520

Edge inscription: "37th Year of the State of Israel" in archaic Hebrew.

18.00

149

2 IS

Proof

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

inscribed

rev. 'Mem'

Stuttgart

8,330

30.00

150

10 IS

Proof

gold

.900

30.0

17.28

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Ottawa

3,240

1,100.00

The year 1985 marked several important milestones in Israel's history. That year, two of the most important academic institutions celebrated their 60th Anniversary: the Hebrew University on Mount Scopus in Jerusalem, and the "Hebrew Technion" in Haifa. It also marked 60 years since the beginning of the beginning of activities at the experimental station at Beit Dagan, now known as the Volcani Institute for Agricultural Research. Also in 1985, the Weizmann Institute in Rechovot celebrated its 50th Anniversary. To complete this impressive list of scientific milestones, the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Jerusalem was founded 25 years earlier in 1960, with Martin Buber, one of the greatest philosophers of the 20th century,  as its first president.

The coin issued to concur with Israel's 37th Anniversary of Independence shows a stylized tree with branches, creating a kind of molecularly structured Star of David.

ONIYAHU'S VESSEL
1985 / 5745

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

155

1 IS

BU

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

plain

rev. Star

Stuttgart

12,951

25.00

Oniyahu's Vessel is part of an 8th century BC Israelite seal from Tel Dor, an archaeological site on Israel's Mediterranean coast, south of Haifa. The seal is inscribed "Of Oniyahu, Son of Meyrav", indicating that Oniyahu may have been a wealthy and influential personality, most likely a merchant ship owner as well. This significant piece of nautical biblical history proves almost without any doubt that, during the First Temple period, the Kingdom of Israel was a nation of seafarers and shipbuilders. Add to this King Solomon's nautical exploits to the Horn of Africa, some two centuries earlier, and one obtains a clear picture of the Jewish Nation's nautical prowess almost three millennia ago.

The beautiful and historically important "Onyahu's Vessel" coin depicts on its obverse in minute detail an ornately equipped and rigged sailing vessel, as it appeared on the Oniyahu's seal from the 8th century BC.

CAPERNAUM
Historical Sites of the Holy Land Series
1985 / 5746

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

152

½ IS

BU

silver

.850

23.0

07.2

plain

rev. Star

Paris

6,010

All coins have a 12-sided edge.

15.00

153

1 IS

Proof

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Stuttgart

6,220

28.00

154

5 IS

Proof

gold

.900

22.0

08.63

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Bern

2,633

550.00

Capernaum (Kfar Nachum), near the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, is home to a second century AD synagogue. Capernaum's rich past is shown in the many archaeological artifacts found at the site since the early twentieth century. Capernaum is also an important site for Christianity, being the chosen residence of Jesus (Matthew 4:13).

The coin depicts the Capernaum synagogue with its Jewish symbolic illustrations. The Sea of Galilee is visible in the background.

ASHKENAZ LAMP
Hanukka Series
1985 / 5746

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

161

1 NIS

BU

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

plain

rev. Star

Paris

9,460

18.00

162

2 NIS

Proof

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Bern

9,225

30.00

The name of the son of the biblical Gomer was Ashkenaz (Gen. 10:3, I Chron. 1:6), who is believed to be the ancestor of Germanic and other European peoples. Later, the term Ashkenaz was identified with large parts of central and eastern Europe.

The beautifully crafted Ashkenaz Lamp, which graces this coin's obverse, dates from 1574 and is now part of the Israel Museum's extensive Hanukka Lamp collection. The lamp's backplate includes the embossed text of the Hanukka blessing

From this point onward
all coins are denominated in New Sheqalim (NIS)

1986

TRIBUTE TO THE ARTS
38th Anniversary of Independence
1986 / 5746

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

164

1 NIS

BU

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

inscribed

rev. Star

Paris

8,010

Edge inscription: "38th Year of the State of Israel" in archaic Hebrew.

18.00

165

2 NIS

Proof

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

inscribed

rev. 'Mem'

Paris

7,344

30.00

166

10 NIS

Proof

gold

.900

30.0

17.28

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Munich

2,485

1,100.00

Several Israeli institutions of art are world-famous for their high artistic standards and performance. The mention just two examples, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra has for decades been acclaimed as one of the world's leading orchestras, and the Israel Museum is world-renowned for its priceless artifacts, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls.

This coin depicts on its obverse abstract symbols representing the various arts: literature, music architecture, graphic art and sculpture. 

AKKO (ACRE)
Historical Sites of the Holy Land Series
1986 / 5747

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

168

½ NIS

BU

silver

.850

23.0

07.2

plain

rev. Star

Utrecht

6,224

All coins have a 12-sided edge.

15.00

169

1 NIS

Proof

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Stuttgart

6,117

28.00

170

5 NIS

Proof

gold

.900

22.0

08.63

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Bern

2,800

550.00

Few places in Israel can compete with Akko (Acre) in he combination of scenery and historical sites. Settlement began in the Bronze Age, and Akko is also mentioned in Babylonian and Egyptian sources. The town's history is traced from the period of the Hasmoneans. Akko rose to prominence during the Crusades, and later - in the final years of the 18th century - as a battleground between France under the nascent leadership of Napoleon Bonaparte and Great Britain; both striving to gain control of this strategically important stronghold, close to the trade route between Europe of the early industrial revolution and Southern Asia.

This coin of outstanding beauty harmoniously integrates Akko's main elements: the bay enclosed by the city ramparts, the town's skyline with minarets and bell-towers, the "Crypt", arched gates, and the Fleur de Lis, a lily symbol of the French monarchy.

ALGERIAN LAMP
Hanukka Series
1986 / 5747

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

175

1 NIS

BU

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

plain

rev. Star

Stuttgart

8,227

18.00

176

2 NIS

Proof

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Stuttgart

8,343

30.00

The Jewish community in the central Maghreb region had a rich history. Jewish religious life flourished under Ottoman rule as from the 16th century, whereas French colonization from the first part of the 19th century onwards brought emancipation, as well as cultural and economic development for Algeria's Jews. The Algerian Jewish community all but ceased to exist in 1962, when Algeria gained its independence, and almost the entire community left for France and Israel.

The Hanukka Lamp from Algeria, depicted on this coin, was mede in finely crafted brass, and designed in the style of an ornate oriental building. This 19th century piece of art is now part of the collection of antique Diaspora Hanukka Lamps of the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

1987

20 YEARS UNITED JERUSALEM
39th Annivesary of Independence
1987 / 5747

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

177

1 NIS

BU

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

inscribed

rev. Star

Paris

8,107

Edge inscription: "39th Year of the State of Israel" in archaic Hebrew.

18.00

178

2 NIS

Proof

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

inscribed

rev. 'Mem'

Utrecht

7,788

30.00

179

10 NIS

Proof

gold

.900

30.0

17.28

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Paris

3,200

1,100.00

Jerusalem, the capital of Israel and center of the Jewish world, is unique. The city is sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims. Founded by King David over 3000 years ago, it is one of the world's oldest cities. Jerusalem has been destroyed and rebuilt several times, conquered by foreign invaders, and its holy places desecrated. Nevertheless, in the hearts of the Jews the always remained a glimmer of hope that some day Jerusalem will be returned to its rightful owners, a sovereign Jewish nation. The wish "Next Year in Jerusalem" finally came to fruition in 1967, when Jerusalem was reunited, and the Jewish People again took control, after 1900 years, of its most sacred city. To mark the 20th Anniversary of Jerusalem's unification, this special commemorative coin was minted. Simultaneously the coin commemorates Israel's 39th Anniversary of Independence.  

The obverse depicts Ammunition Hill, a memorial for those who fell during the battle which reunited the city, as well as the Lions' Gate, the entry point into the Old City of Israeli forces in June 1967.

JERICHO
Historical Sites of the Holy Land Series
1987 / 5748

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

180

½ NIS

BU

silver

.850

23.0

07.2

plain

rev. Star

Paris

7,590

All coins have a 12-sided edge.

15.00

181

1 NIS

Proof

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Stuttgart

8,196

28.00

182

5 NIS

Proof

gold

.900

22.0

08.63

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Ottawa

4,000

550.00

Jericho is probably best known for the story of its conquest by Joshua. According to the Bible, Joshua first sent two spies to investigate Jericho, then enclosed by strong defensive walls. Then the Israelites besieged the city, encircling it seven times, followed by the blowing of the Shofar. "And when the people heard the sound of the Shofar, they shouted a great shout and the wall fell (Joshua 6:20)." Jericho has two other unique features: Settled around 9000 BC, it is most probably the oldest city in the world, vying for first place with Damascus. And it is - with certainty - the world's lowest city at 260 meters (853 feet) below sea level.

The "Jericho" coin's obverse shows a rosette and pillars from the palace of the 8th century Khalif Hisham, the pit and ruins of the round tower at Tel es-Sultan, the sacred site of Jericho dating from the Neolithic period, as well as a Menorah (seven-branched candelabrum), palm branch and citron with the words "Peace in Israel", as appears on the mosaic floor of the ancient synagogue in Jericho. Palm trees allude to frequent biblical references to Jericho as "the City of Palm Trees".

ENGLISH LAMP
Hanukka Series
1987 / 5748

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

183

1 NIS

BU

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

plain

rev. Star

Stuttgart

7,810

18.00

184

2 NIS

Proof

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Munich

8,039

30.00

The history of the Jewish community in England has been well-documented. Since the arrival of the first Jews with the Norman conquest in 1066, Jews have suffered brutal persecutions, culminating in the infamous York massacre of 1190 and the mass expulsion of England's Jews exactly one century later, in 1290. On the other hand, since their re-admittance in 1656, the Jewish community of England prospered, and English Jews gained a measure of emancipation unrivaled by other liberal European nations, culminating in the premiership of Benjamin Disraeli (1868 and 1874-1880), the first and only person of Jewish parentage to hold that office. Until well into the 20th century it was unheard of, elsewhere in the world, that a Jew could attain the highest office in the land. Anglo Jewry has contributed much to Zionism and the development of Eretz Israel, most notably Sir Moses Montefiore. British Zionist strongly supported Chaim Weizmann, and were instrumental in securing the Balfour Declaration of 1917, in which Foreign Secretary Lord Arthur Balfour declared that "His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people..."

Depicted on the coin is an ornately designed silver Hanukka Lamp dating from 1709, now housed in the London Jewish Museum, showing the prophet Elijah being fed by the ravens (I Kings 12:16-17).

1988

INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION
40th Anniversary of Independence
1988 / 5748

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

185

1 NIS

BU

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

inscribed

rev. Star

Paris

8,990

Edge inscription: "Independence Day 5748" in archaic Hebrew.

18.00

186

2 NIS

Proof

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

inscribed

rev. 'Mem'

Paris

8,100

30.00

187

10 NIS

Proof

gold

.900

30.0

17.28

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Munich

4,575

1,100.00

On 5 Iyar 5708 (14 May 1948), 1878 years after the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans, and 51 years after the First Zionist Congress in Basel under the leadership of Theodor Herzl, the National Committee headed by David Ben Gurion proclaimed the Yishuv's independence. In line with the wishes of Theodor Herzl, the Independence Declaration read out by Ben Gurion stipulated that the new independent State would be governed by democratic principles, and would strive to become a modern and progressive nation in all respects.

The 40th Anniversary of Independence coin depicts on its obverse the memorable occasion when David Ben Gurion proclaimed Israel's independence. On the coin, exactly as in reality, David Ben Gurion is flanked by two large national flags, and overlooked from a large wall picture by Theodor Herzl, visionary of the newborn State of Israel.

CAESAREA
Historical Sites of the Holy Land Series
1988 / 5749

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

188

½ NIS

BU

silver

.850

23.0

07.2

plain

rev. Star

Utrecht

5,865

All coins have a 12-sided edge.

18.00

189

1 NIS

Proof

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Stuttgart

6,560

30.00

190

5 NIS

Proof

gold

.900

22.0

08.63

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Bern

3,454

550.00

Caesarea is one of the more impressive antiquities sites in Israel. Begun as a a Sidonian city, king Herod I (aka Herod the Great) built a port city in 20 BC, in honor of Roman emperor Augustus. The ancient city includes a palace, hippodrome, temple, theater, port, and aqueducts. The Jewish uprising against Rome began in Caesarea. The town was also an important Samaritan center, and during the Byzantine period became a major Christian city. In 1170 the Jewish traveler Benjamin of Tudela visited Caesarea, and found 10 Jewish and 200 Samaritan families living there.

Archaeological remains with a Menorah from a synagogue, the hippodrome, crusader fortress, ancient port and aqueduct, appear on the coin's obverse.

TUNISIAN LAMP
Hanukka Series
1988 / 5749

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

191

1 NIS

BU

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

plain

rev. Star

Utrecht

6,688

25.00

192

2 NIS

Proof

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Utrecht

7,110

32.00

The Jewish community of Tunisia is one of the most ancient Diaspora communities, possibly dating from the 10th century BC. After the Roman conquest in 146 BC, the community was enlarged by Jews from Rome, Judaea and Cyrenaica (present-day Libya). When the Arabs conquered North Africa, they found flourishing Jewish communities such as those at Kairouan and Gabes. In 1956 approximately 105,000 Jews lived in Tunisia, a number which has dwindled to less than 3,000. In Tunis it was customary to hang the Hanukka Lamp on the wall opposite the Mezuza (door guard), near the front door of the home. The Hanukka Lamp was left hanging there until Purim, in order to connect between both festivals commemorating miracles that saved the Jewish Nation.

A Tunisian Hanukka Lamp from the 19th century graces the coin's obverse.

1989

PROMISED LAND
41st Annivesary of Independence
1989 / 5749

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

199

1 NIS

BU

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

inscribed

rev. Star

Stuttgart

6,249

Edge inscription: "41st Anniversary of the State of Israel" in archaic Hebrew.

18.00

200

2 NIS

Proof

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

inscribed

rev. 'Mem'

Stuttgart

7,062

30.00

201

10 NIS

Proof

gold

.900

30.0

17.28

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Ottawa

2,743

1,100.00

"...and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage..." (Jeremiah #:19). It has been said that while all other lands lacking somethind, the Land of Israel lacks nothing: dew-covered at all times, abounding in springs, bathed in sun and moonlight. The gazelle is the traditional symbol of the Land's loveliness. The Hebrew word for gazelle is Zvi, which also means beauty. The gazelle is also one of the swiftest animals, so the Land of Israel causes fruit to ripen faster than in other lands. A symbol of purity and speed, but harmless and easy prey, the gazelle was near extinction. One of the first actions of the State of Israel was legislation to restore the gazelle population, and with it the ancient glory of Eretz HaZvi, the Land of the Gazelle.

The 41st Anniversary of Independence coin features a stylized tree and gazelle, a symbol of the flora and fauna of Israel.

JAFFA HARBOUR
Historical Sites of the Holy Land Series
1989 / 5750

View of Jaffa by David Roberts, 1839


Photograph from 1917


Postcard from the 1920s


Detail of Hebrew-English postcard with new enclosed port on the right, around 1930


View from the Tel Aviv promenade, 2008 (Pinchas Bar Zeev)

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

202

½ NIS

BU

silver

.850

23.0

07.2

plain

rev. Star

Stuttgart

4,940

All coins have a 12-sided edge.

20.00

203

1 NIS

Proof

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Stuttgart

4,844

32.00

204

5 NIS

Proof

gold

.900

22.0

08.63

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Ottawa

2,402

550.00

Few cities in the world can boast a history as long, colorful and tumultuous as that of Jaffa, one of the oldest towns surviving until this day. Jaffa became famous even before Jerusalem. The land called Canaan, later Israel, is located at one of history's most strategic points. Every trade route and conquering army had to pass through it. Jaffa served as a major Mediterranean port, and the only viable entry point into the Land of Israel. The Bible tells us of Jonah who fled from Jaffa (Jonah 1:3). Greek mythology recounts how Perseus saved Andromeda here. The Crusaders saw in Jaffa the port nearest Jerusalem. Napoleon Bonaparte coveted Jaffa in his quest for French domination of the Levant. The first road passable by carriages was constructed between Jaffa and Jerusalem in the 1860s, followed in 1892 by the first railway line linking both cities. Israel's famed citrus products bear the name "Jaffa". Residents of Jaffa established Tel Aviv in 1909, and in 1950 Jaffa became an integral part of the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo. The stunning panoramic view of ancient Jaffa has always inspired painters and photographers. All five images show a breathtaking view of Jaffa from exactly the same seaside spot. The top image was drawn by David Roberts in 1839, his only image of the Holy Land depicting Jews, apparently pilgrims waiting for embarkation to Europe. The second image dates from 1917, the days of the British World War I conquest of Palestine from the dying Ottoman Empire. The third picture dates back to the 1920s, when some development was taking place, and newly constructed buildings grace the Jaffa skyline. The fourth image is a detail from a Hebrew-English postcard from the 1930s, a period of increased economic development as a result of waves of Jewish immigration from Eastern and Central Europe, and the subsequent rapid expansion of Tel Aviv. On the right the newly built Jaffa port has become a mooring place for fishing boats, as well as lighters serving ocean-going passenger and cargo steamers on anchor on the roads of Jaffa. The fifth and last picture was taken by Pinchas Bar-Zeev in February 2008, again from exactly the same location, now a beautiful paved seaside pedestrian and cycling promenade running all the way from the Tel Aviv port in the north to ancient Jaffa in the south.

The coin gives us the same panoramic view of Jaffa and its port, as seen from the same location on the Tel Aviv seaside, with the sea's waves in the foreground. The typical Jaffa skyline includes the port's lighthouse and a sailing boat, symbolic for the city's past as an important anchor place of merchant sailing ships, and the port's present-day function as a marina, as well as a base for fishing boats.

PERSIAN LAMP
Hanukka Series
1989 / 5750

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

205

1 NIS

BU

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

plain

rev. Star

Madrid

6,171

28.00

206

2 NIS

Proof

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Madrid

6,282

35.00

That Jews lived in Persia during biblical times, needs no further explanation. One only needs to consult the Book of Esther, read during the Purim festival. Later in history, Jews in Persia (present-day Iran) led industrious and creative lives for over 2000 years. They enjoyed periods of prosperity, but also severe persecutions. The Jewish community of Persia has produced distinguished poets, philosophers and thinkers. Since the 12th century, when the community numbered half a million, Iranian Jewry has declined steadily, especially during periods of persecution, culminating in the mass-exodus during and shortly after the Islamic revolution of 1979, when some 50,000 Jews left Iran.

The coin's obverse shows a round Hanukka Lamp from Persia, carved from stone in the early 17th century, following an ancient tradition from the time of the Babylonian Talmud.

1990

ARCHAEOLOGY
42nd Anniversary of Independence
1990 / 5750

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

212

1 NIS

BU

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

inscribed

rev. Star

Stuttgart

5,509

Edge inscription: "42nd Anniversary of the State of Israel" in archaic Hebrew.

30.00

213

2 NIS

Proof

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

inscribed

rev. 'Mem'

Stuttgart

5,457

42.00

214

10 NIS

Proof

gold

.900

30.0

17.28

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Paris

1,815

1,100.00

Archaeological research has prospered since the creation of the State of Israel, making giant strides in increasing knowledge of the ancient Land of Israel. Archaeological surveys have covered much of the country's territory, and excavations have uncovered treasures stretching over many thousands of years. Israel's archaeological richness can be viewed at the country's many ancient historical sites and museums.

The coin commemorating Israel's 42nd Independence Day shows on its obverse an ancient Hebrew abecedary from Lachish, marking Hebrew Language Year. Also shown is a relief from the ancient synagogue at Ashkelon and Herodian ashlars.

SEA OF GALILEE MAP
Historical Sites of the Holy Land Series
1990 / 5751

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

209

½ NIS

BU

silver

.850

23.0

07.2

plain

rev. Star

Stuttgart

4,346

All coins have a 12-sided edge.

22.00

210

1 NIS

Proof

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Stuttgart

4,735

35.00

211

5 NIS

Proof

gold

.900

22.0

08.63

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Ottawa

1,935

550.00

The Sea of Galilee is one of the most beautiful spots in Israel, flanked by the mountains of Galilee in the west and the Golan Heights on its eastern shores. The lake is important in Christian tradition as the location of Capernaum and the Mount of Beatitudes. Its other names are Lake of Tiberias after the city on its western shore, Gennesareth in Greek, and Kinneret in biblical (Numbers 34:11; Joshua 13:27) and modern Hebrew. The Sea of Galilee is the lowest freshwater lake in the world at -210 m (approx. -700 ft), and the second-lowest lake after the Dead Sea (a saltwater lake). It is also Israel's main source of drinking water.

A topical map of the Sea of Galilee adorns the coin's obverse, illustrated with archaeological finds from the lakes' vicinity: a coin of the city of Tiberias dating from the 2nd century AD, a portion of the zodiac from the synagogue at Hamat Tiberias (3rd - 4th century AD), a stone relief from Capernaum (3rd - 4th century AD), and a portion of a mosaic from the 5th century Byzantine monastery at Kursi on the eastern shore of the lake.

COCHIN LAMP
Hanukka Series
1990 / 5751

CAT. #

DENOM.

GRADE

ALLOY

FINE-
NESS

Ø
MM

WT.
GR

EDGE

MINTMARK

MINT

MINTAGE

REMARKS

VALUE
USD

215

1 NIS

BU

silver

.850

30.0

14.4

plain

rev. Star

Stuttgart

5,259

30.00

216

2 NIS

Proof

silver

.850

37.0

28.8

reeded

rev. 'Mem'

Stuttgart

5,383

35.00

In the city of Cochin and within a 70 km  (43 miles) radius, eight beautiful synagogues were vibrant centers of Jewish life. The roots of the Jewish community in southwestern India date back to around 1000 AD when the local ruler granted the Jews a nearly autonomic "merchant principality" north o Cochin. It lasted for 500 years, longer than any Jewish autonomy in the Diaspora. Immigration to Israel of Jews from the Cochin area started in the 1950s.

A wall-mounted 19th century Hanukka Lamp from Cochin graces the coin's obverse.

Details of Mints

Place
or Name

Country

Name of Mint

Bern

Switzerland

Federal Mint Swissmint

Madrid

Spain

Real Casa de Moneda - Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre (Royal Spanish Mint)

Munich

Germany

Bayerisches Hauptmüntzamt (Bavarian State Mint)

Ottawa

Canada x

Royal Canadian Mint

Paris

France

Monnaie de Paris

Stuttgart

Germany

Staatliche Münzen Baden-Württemberg (State Mint of Baden-Württemberg)

Utrecht

Netherlands

's Rijks Munt (in 1994 renamed: Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt - Royal Dutch Mint)

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SHEQEL Catalog © 2007-2016
In memory of Pinchas Bar Zeev - Author & Publisher.

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