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"Masada"


World Heritage Sites in Israel Series

Commemorative Coin Set Issued by the Bank of Israel

2009/5769

Masada Coin Set


The second coin in the new "WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN ISRAEL" series features Masada - The mountain top fortress built by King Herod near the shore of the Dead Sea.


In the First Revolt against the Romans, a group of rebels led by Elazar ben Yair overcame the Roman garrison and occupied Masada. For three years the rebels held out against the enemy. In the year 73, the Romans retook the fortress. When all hope was lost the Jews set fire to Masada and chose to take their own lives. Ben Yair spoke to his followers, "Let us die before we become the slaves of our enemies. We leave the world of the living as free men".


Masada became a symbol of the love of freedom and the desire to preserve it. "Masada shall not fall again".


Coin Description

Front

The site of the ancient palaces and fortress. The UNESCO symbol at the left. The inscription, "Masada" in Hebrew, Arabic and English.

Reverse

The denomination "1, 2 or 10" with the year of issue "5769/2009" and the word "Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic. The State Emblem at the top. "New Sheqel" or "New Sheqalim" below the denomination. The Proof coins mintmarked with a Hebrew 'mem' at the bottom left. The Proof-like coins with a six pointed 'Star of David'.

NIS-New Israel Sheqalim


Cat. No. Denomination Type Diameter Weight Mintage Price
FR 111 10 NIS Proof Gold/.917 30 mm 16.96 grams 548 -


Masada Gold Coin Proof Masada Gold Coin Proof


Actual gold weight:    1/2 oz.   encapsulated and housed in a custom display case from the Bank of Israel


Cat. No. Denomination Type Diameter Weight Mintage Price
WHS 2 1 NIS Proof-like Silver/.925 30 mm 14.4 grams 783 60.00
WHS 2a 2 NIS Proof Silver/.925 38.7 mm 28.8 grams 1,037 90.00


Masada Silver Coin Masada Silver Coin


Masada Silver Proof Coin Masada Silver Proof Coin


Each coin is encapsulated and housed in a custom display case from the Bank of Israel


Proof-Like: A Mint State coin struck on a standard quality planchet. The coin displays a mirror type finish, but of lesser degree than a full Proof strike. A small six pointed "Star of David" mintmark struck on the ""Masada" coin at the lower left.

Proof: A coin which was made with special care. The coins are struck using polished dies. The planchets are specially selected and polished. The coins exhibit a mirror-like surface in the fields and a frosted appearance on the raised points of the coin. A small Hebrew 'mem' mintmark is struck on the "Masada" coin at the lower left.



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