Beit She'an

Beit She'an
State Medal, 5725-1965

Beit-She'an, one of the oldest cities in the world, is mentioned quite often in the Bible. The Phillistines displayed there the body of King Saul who had fallen upon his sword to avoid capture. (Samuel 131:10). The city was subsequently recaptured by David. Beit She'an, in the Hellenistic period, was one of the most important and most flourishing cities of the "League of Ten Cities". In 100 BCE the city was conquered by Yahana Hyrcons, the Hasmonean. In the days of the Second Commonwealth and during the Mlshnaic and Talmudic period, the city was settled by Jews. The Arabs conquered Beit She'an in 636 CE and destroyed it. Today Beit She'an is primarily an agricultural community.

Obverse: A composition of the main historical features of Beit She'an, as the visitor sees them today: the Tel, the Roman theatre, the synagogue mosaic, a Doric column. The name of the city, "Beit She'an" in Hebrew above and in English, below.

Reverse: In the center, a replica of a city-coin minted in 189 CE. The coin depicts Dionysius and, at his heel, his sacred panther. Around Dionysius, in Greek letters, "Nyckie Acysmc" and the year of issue "189 CE". On the rim, an inscription "Coin of Beit She'an 3949" in Hebrew and English. The date, in English, 189 CE.

Edge: The emblem of the State of Israel, and the words "State of Israel" in Hebrew and English. On the silver medals "Sterling" in English and "Silver 935" in Hebrew.

Serialization: All the medals are numbered.

Designer: Obverse - Mordechai Gumpel. Reverse - Alex Berlyne.

Engraving: Kretschmer.

Mint: Kretschmer