Dove and Cedar

Dove and Cedar
Flora and Fauna from the Song of Songs Coin, 1991/5752

The Songs of Songs is perhaps the most sublime love poem ever written. Attributed to King Solomon, the Song of Songs is regarded as a conversation between the People of Israel and God and an expression of God's deep and eternal love for Israel. Some take the poems at face value, as expressions of the innocent human love of shepherds and shepherdesses in the bosom of nature. All agree on the beauty of its poetry, which reflects a deep love of the landscape, springtime, and flora and fauna of Israel. The "Cedar and Dove" Commemorative Coin is first in the "Flora and Fauna from the Song of Songs" Series. He sings to her: "Thou art fair my love... thou hast dove's eyes, " while to her, he is "excellent as the cedars".

Obverse:
Face value in Hebrew and English, 1 New Sheqel on the Silver B.U. and 18mm Gold Coin, 2 New Sheqalim on the Silver Proof Coin, 5 New Sheqalim on the 22mm Gold Coin. Right, the Israel State Emblem, left, two cedar trees. Around the border, "ISRAEL" in Hebrew, Arabic and English and biblical quote "excellent as the cedars" and reference, "song of songs 5:15", in Hebrew and English.

Reverse:
A dove in flight with clefts of rock in the background. Around the border, biblical quote "THOU HAST DOVES' EYES, reference "song of songs 4:1", and mint year 1991 / 5752

Edge:
B.U. Coin: Smooth
Silver Proof and Gold Coin: Milled

Mint Marks:
B.U. Coin – Star of David (Beneath the face value)
Silver Proof and Gold Coin – Hebrew letter "Mem" (Beneath the face value)

Designer:
Obverse - Assaf Berg
Reverse - Ruben Nutels

Plaster models: Tidhar Dagan

Mint:
Silver B.U. and Proof coins - Stuttgart Mint
Gold Coins - Royal Canadian Mint