Leopard and Palm Tree

Leopard and Palm Tree
"Flora and Fauna from the Song of Songs" Coin, 1994/5755

The Song of Songs is perhaps the most sublime love poem ever written. Attributed to King Solomon, the Song of Songs is regarded as a conversation between the People of Israel and God and an expression of God's deep and eternal love for Israel. Some take the poems at face value, as expressions of the innocent human love of shepherds and shepherdesses in the bosom of nature. All agree on the beauty of its poetry, which reflects a deep love of the landscape, springtime, and flora and fauna of Israel. The "Leopard and Palm Tree Commemorative Coin is fourth in the "Flora and Fauna from the Song of Songs" Series. The leopard is symbol of boldness and the lofty date palm, one of the Seven Species, represents height and beauty.

Obverse: Face value in Hebrew and English, 1 New Sheqel on the Silver B.U. Coin and 18mm Gold Coin, 2 New Sheqalim on the Silver Proof Coin, 5 New Sheqalim on the 22mm Gold Coin, right of the face value, a date palm, above left, the Israel State Emblem, in the upper left-hand border, "ISRAEL" in Hebrew, Arabic and English, around the lower border, the words "thy stature is like to a palm tree"and reference "song of songs 7:7" in Hebrew and English.

Reverse: A leopard, around the border, the biblical passage "from the mountains of the leopards" and the source, "song of songs 4:8", in Hebrew and in English and mint year 1994 / 5755.

Edgs:
Silver B.U. Coin - smooth
Silver Proof and Gold Coins - milled

Mint Marks:
Below the face value:
Silver B.U. Coin - Star of David.
Silver Proof and Gold coins - Hebrew letter "Mem"

Designer: Yaacov Enyedi. Plaster models - Tidhar Dagan.

Mint:
Silver Coins - Royal Dutch Mint, Utrecht.
Gold Coins - Royal Canadian Mint, Ottawa