Jaffa

Jaffa
State Medal, 5725-1965

Almost without exception, no conqueror overlooked Jaffa's importance as a harbor. In 701 BCE Sennacherib conquered it, Alexander the Great in 332 BCE and Jonathan the Hasmonean in 148 BCE. In the uprising against the Romans it fell two years before the destruction of Jerusalem. Moslems captured Jaffa in 636 BCE. The Crusaders held Jaffa for nearly two centuries but their control came to an end in 1268 when it was conquered by Sultan Baibars. In 1516 it was taken over by the Turkish Sultan Salim I and was under Ottoman control for 400 years. Over the generations the foreign presence changed from time to time. Jews, however, lived there nearly continuously and a permanent Jewish community was established in 1820. In 1909 the inhabitants of Jaffa established a neighboring community which became Tel Aviv.

Obverse: The promontory of Jaffa in the form of Jonah's whale, carrying old-fashioned dwellings on its back. This tail is shaped into three Hebrew letters (Yafo). The name of the city, "Jaffa", in Hebrew above and in English below.

Reverse: In the centre, a replica of a city-coin minted during the reign of Emperor Elagabalus (21 7-222 CE). Athena, the goddess of wisdom and the science of war, holding a spear in her right hand and a shield in her left hand. The inscription around Athena in Greek, "Flavia Yoppas" (as Jaffa was called in Hellenic times). On the rim, the inscription, "Coin of Jaffa 217-222 CE" in Hebrew 3977-82, in English below.

Edge: "State of Israel" in Hebrew and English and the menorah. The silver medals are marked with the word "Sterling 935" in English and "Silver" in Hebrew.

Serialization: All the medals are numbered.

Designer: Obverse - Jean David. Reverse - Alex Berlyne.

Engraving: Kretschmer.

Mint: Kretschmer.