The Half Shekel
Year 53

Coin Description

New Holy Half-Shekel for year 53


Obverse

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of our ancestors' custom of retaining the ancient script on our independent coinage, even after that script has been superceded by another version, as was the case with the First and Second Rebellion coins.



Reverse

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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