Havdalah Spicebox

Havdalah Spicebox
Judaic Art Coin, 1993/5754

The Havdalah Ceremony held as the Sabbath leaves us, separates between the sacred Sabbath and the secular weekdays. A wine cup, spicebox and candle are held and blessings are made over each of them.

During the Sabbath we possess an "added soul" and to compensate ourselves at the departure of this "added soul", at the end of the Sabbath, we make a blessing over fragrant spices. It is customary to hold these spices in an artistic spicebox and, over the ages, many spiceboxes have become museum pieces of Judaic Art.

The 13th century Spicebox featured on the "Havdalah Spicebox" Coin is from the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and is perhaps the only one of its kind remaining from the Golden Age of Spanish Jewry, preceding the expulsion. The modern Spicebox on the other side of the coin was designed by Hana Bahar-Paneth of Jerusalem.

Obverse: Face value, 1 NEW SHEQEL on the Silver B.U. Coin, 2 NEW SHEQALIM on the Silver Proof Coin, in Hebrew and English. To the left is a modern Spicebox designed by Hana Bahar-Paneth of Jerusalem. Upper left, in the border, is the word "ISRAEL in Hebrew, Arabic and English.

Reverse: Thirteenth Century Spicebox from Spain, from the Victoria and Albert Museum Collection, London, left is the mint year 1993 and right, the corresponding Hebrew mint year 5754. Above the Spicebox is the Israel State Emblem. Decorative shapes adorn the coin around the border.

Edge: Silver B.U. Coin - smooth, Silver Proof Coin - milled

Mint Marks: Silver B.U. Coin - Star of David, Silver Proof Coin - Hebrew letter "Mem"

Designer: Ruben Nutels

Plaster models: Tidhar Dagan

Mint: Stuttgart Mint