Gamla And The Vultures

GAMLA AND THE VULTURES
Fourth in the "Views of Israel" Commemorative Coin Series
Legal Tender issued by the Bank of Israel

The Gamla Nature Reserve, located in the center of the Golan Heights, is considered one of the most beautiful reserves in Israel, with its steep stream cliffs, rich variety of wildlife, and impressive archeological remains of the ancient city of Gamla.

Ancient Gamla was built in 81 BCE by the Hasmonean King Alexander Jannai and, at the time, served as capital of the Golan. The name "Gamla" is derived from the Hebrew word "gamal" meaning "camel", because the city is built on the side of a steep mountain that resembles a camel's hump.

Gamla was declared a Nature Reserve in 2003. Two streams run through it – the Daliot Stream and the Gamla Stream, along which is the 51 meter-high Gamla Waterfall, the highest waterfall in Israel. The Gamla Reserve is home to a varied wildlife, including Israel's Mountain Gazelle, jackals, foxes, wolves, caracal, porcupines and vultures.

In the Reserve is the largest vulture nesting site in Israel. At the edge of the cliff, overlooking the Gamla stream is a vulture observation point, from which the vulture population and birds of prey in the Reserve can be watched.

Once, the most common bird in the Israel region, the vulture, today, fights for its survival, due in part to hunting, poisoning and diminishing food sources.  Vultures can reach 1.1 meters in body length, a 2.7 meter wingspan and their weight is about 7 to 8 kilogram. Living exclusively on dead carcasses, they serve as a natural "sanitation crew", cleaning the area of the remains of dead animals, and thus preventing the spread of disease. The presence of vultures is, therefore, of great importance to nature's ecological system and much has been done in the Gamla Reserve, over the years, to rehabilitate the vulture population.

The "Gamla and the Vultures" Commemorative Coin, chosen as fourth in the "Views of Israel" Series, features the spectacular view of the Gamla Nature Reserve and vultures which nest in the Reserve.

Coin Description:
Obverse: A vulture in flight against the Gamla Nature Reserve background. To the right, the face value and mint year.

Reverse: A picturesque view of the Gamla Reserve with the Vulture Observation Point in the center and, above, vultures circling around in the sky.

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: Zvika Roitman