Damascus Gate

DAMASCUS GATE
Third in the "Gates of Jerusalem" Bullion Series

Damascus Gate is considered the most impressive gate among the eight gates in the walls of Jerusalem that were built in the 16th century during Ottoman rule, by demand of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.

Damascus Gate is so called because the northward route from the Gate led to Damascus. In Hebrew, it is called Nablus (Shechem) Gate for the same reason; the route northwards passes through Nablus.  Archaeological excavations have revealed gates from former periods beneath the Damascus Gate built in the Ottoman period; in the lower layer, remains of a first century BCE gate built by King Herod in the Second Temple period, and above, remains of the gate from the Roman period. In the early Muslim period, changes were made in the structure of the gate. In the Crusader period, the gate was blocked and a new gate was constructed on a higher level, further north.

Obverse: Damascus Gate, inscription in English and Hebrew, "Damascus Gate", on the gold version "1oz. fine gold.9999, on the silver "1oz. fine silver.999, and the mint year.
Common Reverse of the Series: Stylized map of the Gates in the Wall around the Old City of Jerusalem. border inscription in English and Hebrew, "Gates of Jerusalem" and, below, The Holy Land Mint logo.

Design: Zvika Roitman

Engraving: Tidhar Dagan

Mint: The Holy Land Mint