Avdat

AVDAT
SIXTH IN THE "UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN ISRAEL" SERIES
Legal Tender issued by the Bank of Israel

Avdat in the Negev was one of the famed ancient Nabatean cities along the Incense Route, the road over which costly incense, perfumes and spices were brought out of Arabia, across the Negev and to the Mediterranean ports.

The city was named after the Nabatean king Oboda (30-9 BCE), who was buried there. Avdat flourished during the reign of King Aretas IV (30 BCE-9 BCE), but was destroyed by marauding Arab tribes in the second half of the first century BCE. Later, the last Nabatean king, Rabbel (70-106 CE), rebuilt Avdat. In 106 CE the Roman Empire took over the region, and Avdat continued to flourish until the seventh-century Arab conquest.

The Nabatean temple on Avdat’s ‘acropolis’ left almost no remains, but its magnificence can be imagined from its restored gateway. The fabulous view from the temple takes in the Avdat highlands and the Even-Ari farm, where Byzantine-era agricultural techniques developed by the Nabateans are reconstructed.
Information, courtesy of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority

Coin Description

Obverse: Face value, "Israel" in English, Hebrew and Arabic, mint year, Israel State Emblem and a train of five camels

Reverse: "Avdat, The Incense Route" in English, Hebrew and Arabic, UNESCO and World Heritage Site Emblems, the restored gateway of the Nabatean temple with dedicatory inscriptions engraved on the lintel across the top of the gateway.

Edge:
Silver Prooflike Coin: Smooth
Silver Proof and Gold Coin: Milled

Mint Marks:
Silver Prooflike Coin – Star of David
Silver Proof and Gold Coin – Hebrew letter "Mem"

Designer: Gideon Sagi

Engraving: Tidhar Dagan

Mint: The Holy Land Mint