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| "DOVE & CEDARS" 1991/5752
Israel's "Holyland Wildlife" Series. 1991 "Thou art fair, my love.. thou hast doves'eyes" sings he to her. She, in her praise, says of him: "excellent as the cedars". These two images, fresh and vivid today as they were in biblical times, complement each other in the first coin in the holyland wildlife series. The love poetry of the "Song of Songs" is perhaps the most sublime in the entire world of literature. Traditional Judaism interprets the poem allegorically, as a dialogue between God and His people, expressing the deep and everlasting love between them. Others enjoy the beautiful poetry of King Solomon at its human face value, as the song of erotic yet naive pastoral love. Either way, all admire the great love it bespeaks for the countryside, plants and animals of the Land of Israel. Of the rich array of animal, flower, tree and fruit images that embellish the love poems, nine plant-animal pairs are featured in the commemorative series.
Description of the Coin Front A dove on a background of clefts of a rock. The inscription "thou hast doves' eyes (Song of Songs 4:1)" and the date "1991-5752" in Hebrew and English. Reverse Two cedars with inscription "excellent as the cedars. Song of Songs 5, 15" in Hebrew and English. The word "Israel" in Hebrew, Arabic and English. The State Emblem and denomination. The proof coins are mintmarked with a Hebrew 'mem'. The uncirculated silver coin is mintmarked with a 6 pointed star below the denomination. NIS-New Israel Sheqalim
Actual gold weight: 1/10 & 1/4 oz. - Encapsulated and housed in a display case from the Bank of Israel
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