Rehovot, Weizmann Institute of Science

Rehovot, Weizmann Institute of Science
State Medal, 5730-1970

The city of Rehovot was founded as an agricultural settlement in 1890. The first settlers named their place, Rehovot, after the verse in Genesis (26:22) "For now the Lord has made room for us". At the beginning of the First World War Rehovot already had 1,000 inhabitants, thereafter the settlement developed rapidly and thrived achieving the status of a city in 1950.

The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot was founded by Dr. Chaim Weizmann in 1 945. It began as the Daniel Sieff Institute for science research. Dr. Weizmann set lofty international standards for the Institute. The Weizmann friends decided, while celebrating his 70th birthday, to broaden the scope of the Institute and to name it after him. The Weizmann Institute of Science very quickly became one of the foremost science research institutions in the world.

Obverse:
Science is allegorically represented as a galloping steed thrusting forward upward; the rider on top, in control by holding the reins tightly. Symbols of various science disciplines form a continuous pattern and are interwoven to make up the form of horse and rider. The horse has two heads as if to indicate the eye beholds him only fleetingly and that he is already in another position hinting at the explosive development of modern science. On the rim, in Hebrew and English an inscription noting the anniversary. The letters and design show a punctured tape, out of an electronic computer.

Reverse:
The official emblem of the City of Rehovot, oranges and books and a microscope, symbolizing the economic and scientific base of the city. On the medal these elements appear in a stylized composition in addition to the inscription in Hebrew: "80 to Rehovot 5650-5730". In English the dates given are 1890-1970.

Edge:
The State emblem and the words "State of Israel" in Hebrew and English. The silver medals bear "Sterling" in English and "Silver 935" in Hebrew.

Serialization:
All medals are numbered.
Bronze numbered to 7,000. 5 were not minted. 57 were melted.
Silver numbered to 4,000. 2 were not minted. 41 were melted.

Designer: Yitzhak Pugacz

Engraving: Moshe Nov

Mint: Hecht