Israels 40th Anniversary

Independence Day Coin, 1988 5748 40th Anniversary of the State of Israel

On 5 lyar 5708, 1878 years after the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans and 51 years after the First Zionist Congress in Basel under the leadership ot Theodore Herzl, visionary ot the Jewish State, the National Committee, headed by David Ben-Gurion, proclaimed political, economic and cultural independece. Earlier, over a period ot 60 years, during the Ottoman period and period of the British Mandate, thousands of pioneers had arrived in the Land of Israel from all parts of the Diaspora in order to work the land and make the wasteland bloom. They established farms and towns and during 40 years of independence, the small country of 650,000 people grew to 4,000,000. As Herzl stated: "if you will it, it is no dream".

Obverse: Face value in Hebrew and English, "1 New Sheqel" on the Silver B.U. Coin; "2 New Sheqalim" on the Silver Proof Coin; "10 New Sheqalim" on the Gold Coin. To the left of the face value on the silver coins and to the right, within the digit "0", on the gold coins, the Israel State emblem, in the right-hand, the mint year, 1988 / 5748.

Reverse: Figure "40". Within the "0" is a depiction of David Ben-Gurion reading the proclamation of independence, national flags and the portrait of Herzi in the background. Around the border is the inscription "ISRAEL'S 40th ANNIVERSARY" in English, Hebrew and Arabic.

Edge: Silver Coins - "Independence Day 5748" in ancient Hebrew script. Gold coin-milled.

Mint Marks: Silver B.U. Coin - Star of David., Silver Proot Coin and Gold Coin - Hebrew letter "Mem" beneath the Israel State Emblem.

Designer: Obverse - Asher Kalderon, Reverse - Ruben Nutels, Reliefs - Tidhar Dagan

Mint: Silver B.U. and Silver Proof Coins - Monnaie de Paris, Gold Coin - Mint of Munich