The Half Shekel
Year 53
Coin Description
IIn the center of the obverse
is the Nevel, the 22-string Davidic Harp.
Above the Nevel appears the date,
in ancient Hebrew letters taken from the coinage of the First Rebellion
(65-70 CE); "Shin Noon Gimmel" standing for "Shanah 'Noon-Gimmel'"
(52nd Year). As we have no custom of dating our coinage by foreign calenders,
nor even from Creation, we took the example of our predesessors and dated
our ceremonial coin from the Liberation of the Land of Israel. This year's
coin, minted to be given on Purim of 2001, will open the 53rd Year celebrations
of the State of Israel.
Below the Nevel appear the words "Lo
Heilech Chuki" (Not Legal Tender), to satisfy the needs of the
Bank of Israel Law that we are not producing a currency substitute.
The legend along the right side of
the coin reads "V'Natnu Ish Kofer Nafsho L'Hashem" ("And
every person shall give an atonement for their soul to G-d") [Exodus
30:12], and continues with "Machatzit Hashekel B'Shekel Hakodesh"
("Half a Shekel of the Holy Shekel") [Exodus 30:13]
The same wording appears in the ancient
Hebrew script as the legend along the left side of the coin. We did this
as a continuation of our ancestors' custom of retaining the ancient script
on our independent coinage, even after that script has been superceded
by another version, as was the case with the First and Second Rebellion
coins.
The reverse features the
Laver (Kiyor) used by the Priests to wash their hands and feet prior to entering
upon Service. [Exodus 30:18].
The legend across the top reads "Heasher
Lo Yarbeh, V'Hadal Lo Yamit" ("The rich shall not give more,
nor the poor less".) [Exodus 30:15]
The legend across the bottom reads
"L'Shem Ichud Klal Yisrael" ("For the sake of the
unity of the whole House of Israel") [Beged Ivri]
Diameter: | | 21.9 mm. |
Weight: | | 7.778 gr. |
Edge: | | Smooth |
Alloy: | | Silver .999 |
Design: | | Beged Ivri |
Mint: | | Jerusalem |
Mintage: | | TBA |
Year: | | 53 (2001/2002) |
Date of Issue: | | Purim 5761 (10th March, 2001) |
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