The People of the Book

Israel's 33rd Anniversary of Independence Coin 5741 – 1981
"The People of the Book"

The "Book of Books" was given to the Jewish people who are therefore called, "The People of the Book".

The Bible was written in Hebrew and over the generations scribes and scholars copied letters, sentences and passages, thus preventing the spiritual independence and culture of the nation, even during the long period that it was dispersed among other nations.

The 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet formed the basis of two Jewish languages spoken in the Diaspora – Yiddish and Ladino.

The vitality of printing and the Hebrew book exhibits in Israel is proven by the number of books published in the country. The year 1980 alone saw the publications of 4,381 books, 15 million copies printed by 123 publishers.

Description

Obverse
The face value "2" and the words in Hebrew "Two Sheqalim" for the silver coins; "10" and the words in Hebrew, "Ten Sheqalim" for the gold coin; The state emblem, the word "Israel" in Hebrew, Arabic and Latin characters and the date "5741-1981"

Reverse
An open book with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet designed like a flame.

Edge
On the silver coin the inscription "33rd Year of the State of Israel" in Archaic Hebrew in direction of obverse, gold coin milled.

Mint Marks
On the reverse of the BU coin, the Star of David and on the reverse of the proof silver and gold coins, the letter "mem", on the bottom rim centre.

Designer
Obverse – Dov Lif
Reverse – Aharon Afini

Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint, Ottawa.