Nightingale and Fig

Nightingale and Fig Coin 1996/5757
6th in the FLORA AND FAUNA from the SONG OF SONGS Series

The Song 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. For some the songs are viewed simply and compassionately as an expression of innocent, pastoral love. All are enthralled by their beauty and the expressions of deep love for the landscape, springtime, nature and the flora of the Land of Israel.

"Behold the autumn has passed, the rain has gone, blossoms are seen in the Land, the time of the nightingale has come, the voice of the turtledove is heard; the fig has formed its first fruit; the vines in blossom give forth fragrance", Song of Songs 2:11-13. These verses describe springtime in the Land of Israel. The rains have ended, the trees are in blossom and the nightingale has come. Israel is located on the migratory route between Europe and Africa, of so many birds, including the nightingale and the sweet sound of the birds can be heard from within the shrubbery.

The first fruit mentioned in the Bible, the fig is one of the seven species of plants with which the Land of Israel is blessed.

Obverse: Face value in Hebrew and in English, above left, the Israel State Emblem, in the upper border, "Israel" in English, Hebrew and Arabic, to the right, fig leaves and figs, around the border, biblical inscription "The fig tree putteth forth her green figs" and reference "Song of Songs 2:13" to the left in English, to the right in Hebrew.

Reverse: A nightingale perched on a branch, biblical inscription "The time of the singing of birds" (Song of Songs 2:12) around the left-hand border in English and above, right, in Hebrew and the mint year.

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

Mint Marks: Silver B.U. Coin – Star of David, Silver Proof and Gold Coins – Hebrew letter "mem"

Designer: Yaacov Enyedi

Plaster Reliefs: Tidhar Dagan

Mint: Mint of Finland