Port of Eilat

Port of Eilat
Israel's 22th Anniversary of Independence Coin 5727-1967

Three thousand years ago King Solomon's merchant ships sailed from the Port of Eilat. Over centuries Eilat changed hands many times as nations wished to rule it because of its importance as a gateway to Africa and the Far East but in the process, Eilat became a desolate area.
Israeli sovereignty over Eilat was renewed in the wake of the War of Independence. At the end of 1956, the Sinai Campaign freed Eilat from its blockade. This marked the beginning of the rapid development of Eilat. After a number of years it was granted the status of a city and its port became Israel's outlet to Africa and the East.

Obverse: A large numeral "5", representing the face value, spreads across the coin surface. To the left, is the currency "Israeli Lirot" in Hebrew. In the lower curve of the "5", in the lower right-hand-side of the coin, engraved is the word "Israel" in Hebrew and Arabic and the mint year "5727-1967" in Hebrew and English.

Reverse: The Hebrew inscription, around the upper border, "A Decade of Eilat's Port". Beneath, a stylized lighthouse, the seawall, roof line and gate of the lighthouse together form the Hebrew letters of "Eilat".

Edge: The inscription "19th Year of the State of Israel".

Mint Marks: On the reverse of the proof coin, the Hebrew letter "mem" centered in the lower border.

Designer:
Obverse-Nathan Karp.
Reverse - Rothschild and Lippman ("Roli").

Mint: Royal Dutch Mint, Utrecht, Holland.