Union of People and its Land

"Union of People and its Land" 5738-1978
Israel's 30th Anniversary of Independence Coin

History knows no parallel of the people scattered and divided among many nations, rising, after a lapse of nineteen centuries of wandering in exile, to gather its children, bringing them back to the land of its forefathers; restoring the land from its desolation; renewing its language, almost unused for centuries; reviving its ancient culture; reconstituting its national life and regaining its political independence in its ancient home land defending it against its enemies.
Throughout nineteen centuries, the people clung tenaciously to its faith, to its ethical values and to its connection with the land of its forefathers, judges, Kings, prophets and Maccabees; the land of Zion and Jerusalem. Upon the realization of the prophecy: "And thy children shall return to their own borders" (Jeremiah 31:17), people and land became united again.

Obverse: Face value "50 Lirot" in Hebrew on the silver coins, "1,000 Lirot" on the gold coin. The Israel State Emblem, word "Israel" in Hebrew, Arabic and English and mint year "5738-1978".

Reverse: An olive tree and within its leaves, the inscription: "Israel's Thirtieth Anniversary" in Hebrew.

Edge: The B.U. silver "30 years of Israel Statehood" directed toward the obverse. The silver and gold proof coins - edges are milled.

Mint Marks: On the obverse of the B.U. coin, a Star of David, on the obverses of the gold and silver proof coins - the Hebrew letter "Mem" in the lower center, between the Hebrew and English mint year.

Designer: Eliezer Weishoff.

Mint: Silver B.U. - Israel Government Mint, Jerusalem. Gold and Silver Proof - Swiss Federal Mint, Berne.