The Dead Sea

THE DEAD SEA COIN 2011/5771
Commemorative Coin in honor of the 63rd Anniversary of the State of Israel.

The Dead Sea is a combination of unique geological and geographical conditions which renders it a natural phenomenon and one of the most striking wonders of the world.

Some interesting facts about the Dead Sea:
* It is situated at the lowest point in the world, 420m below sea level, in the Jordan Rift Valley
* It Is the deepest lake in the world, with a high degree of salinity (in Hebrew it is called the "Salt Sea").
* It is rich in minerals, especially potash and bromine, which are extracted by the Dead Sea Works
* It has therapeutic and healing properties and attracts thousands of people who come for treatment
* It is surrounded by breathtaking scenery with salt cliffs, weathered into incredible shapes
* Due to its high density waters, it is hard to swim in its waters but easy to float on them.
* It lies in a region with a unique wildlife
* It has attracted the development of an important tourist industry
* It Is located in the center of a region rich in Biblical history and archeology.

The Dead Sea waters today are shrinking fast because the intake is much less than the water lost, as a result of high evaporation and the activity of man. The southern part of the lake has already completely dried up and become an area of salt deposits. The costly Dead Sea Project which is to bring water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea, planned together by the Israelis, Jordanians and Palestinians, aims at producing energy, fresh water and further development of tourism.
The 63rd Anniversary Coin of Israel was dedicated to the Dead Sea and the importance of preserving this wonder of nature for the future. The design is based on a satellite photograph of the Dead Sea region. To the left is a native ibex (wild goat), once an endangered species, which flourishes on the nearby cliffs.

Obverse:
Face value, Israel State Emblem, "Israel" in English, Hebrew and Arabic, border inscription "Independence Day 2011" in English and Hebrew. Beneath the face value is a "reflection" of the face value figure, as if reflected in the Dead Sea waters.

Reverse:
A satellite view of the Dead Sea, and an Ibex, once an endangered species, representative of the natural wildlife of the area. Around the left-hand border, "Dead Sea" as it is called in English, Hebrew and Arabic.

Edge:
Silver Prooflike Coin: Smooth
Silver Proof and Gold Coin: Milled

Mint Marks:
Silver Prooflike Coin – Star of David
Silver Proof and Gold Coin – Hebrew letter "Mem"

Designer: Meir Eshel

Engraving: Tidhar Dagan

Mint: Royal Dutch Mint