David Ben-Gurion

David Ben-Gurion
Special Coin Issue 5735-1974

David Ben-Gurion came to Palestine in 1906 and worked as a farm laborer. He was banished from Palestine during the First World War and arrived in the U.S., which was then still neutral. Together with his colleague Yitzhak Ben Tsvi, he mobilized a battalion of volunteers, ready to fight on the side of the Allies. He arrived in Palestine as a member of the Jewish Legion, serving with the British "Royal Fusiliers".
For 14 years, beginning in 1921, he served as head of the Hebrew Federation of Labor in Palestine. He was Chairman of the Jewish Agency 1935-1948. During the Second World War he set the policy: To fight beside Britain against Hitler and, at the same time, to increase the tempo of Jewish immigration and to extend the limits of settlement. Following the War he demanded the immediate establishment of a Jewish State - known as the Baltimore Program, and led the "Haganah" political struggle against the British Mandatory Power. On May 14, 1948, he proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel.

On May 26, 1948, he established the Israel Defense Force. As Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, he led the nation during the War of Independence and the Sinai Campaign. Rich in credits for helping build the country and defending it, he settled, at the twilight of his career, in Sdeh Boker, a Kibbutz in the Negev, an area which he, the visionary, sought to develop thereby creating a new reality.

Obverse: In the center the Israel State Emblem with the word "Israel" in Hebrew at the base. Around the upper border, the face value in Hebrew, 25 Israeli Lirot on the silver coins, 500 Israeli Lirot on the gold coin. Beneath, "Israel" in English and Arabic and the mint year "5735-1974".

Reverse: A likeness of Ben Gurion and the words "David Ben Gurion" in Hebrew and English.

Edge: B.U. coin - smooth, Gold and Silver Proof - milled.

Mint Marks: Beneath the Israel State Emblem, on the B.U Obverse - a Star of David, on the Gold and Silver Proof obverses, the Hebrew letter "Mem"

Designer: Reverse - The likeness - Andre Lassere (from a portrait by A. Bernheim - Jerusalem)., Obverse and Inscription -Zvi Narkiss.

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