Israel Museum 50th Anniversary

THE ISRAEL MUSEUM
6th in the "Jerusalem of Gold" Israeli Bullion Coin Series
Legal Tender issued by the Bank of Israel

In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Israel Museum, the Bank of Israel has dedicated the sixth Israeli Bullion Coin in the "Jerusalem of Gold" Series, to the Israel Museum.

The Israel Museum located in Jerusalem is the largest cultural institution in the State of Israel and ranked among the world’s leading art and archaeology museums. Founded in 1965, the Museum houses encyclopedic collections, including works dating from prehistory to the present day, in its Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Jewish Art and Life Wings. The most extensive holdings of biblical and Holy Land archaeology in the world are featured at the Israel Museum. Over 50 years, the Museum has grown significantly and has built up an extensive and varied collection which includes about half a million items, reflecting a wide spectrum of culture.
The Museum buildings, which have become an important part of the Jerusalem landscape, were planned by architect Alfred Mansfeld and designer Dora Gad. Together, they are designed to resemble in modular modernism a growing Mediterranean village.
For further information about the Israel Museum

Obverse: View of the Israel Museum, to the right, the Shrine of the Book on the Museum Campus. In the upper border is the word "Jerusalem" in English, Hebrew and Arabic and to the right, the Face Value, Mint Year and Star of David Mint Mark.
Common Reverse of the Series: The Lion of Megiddo, with its stylized curved tail, is taken from an ancient seal excavated in Megiddo (Armageddon) in the Jordan Valley, dating from the 8th century BCE. The seal belonged to Shema, the servant of Jeroboam II, Israelite King. The lion is also the symbol of the Tribe of Judah and of the eternal capital of Israel, Jerusalem. The same Lion of Megiddo appeared in the past on the Israeli 5 Lira Banknote (1958), 5 Lira Coin (1978), and on the Half Sheqel Coin (1980). Above the figure of the lion appears the State of Israel Emblem and below it the word “Israel” in English, Hebrew and Arabic.

Edge: Smooth
Mint Marks: Star of David
Face Design: Zvika Roitman
Common Reverse Design: Meir Eshel
Engraving: Tidhar Dagan
Finish: Brilliant Uncirculated
Mint: The Holy Land Mint

On September 22, 2016, yet another winning Israel design was announced, this time at the international "Coin Constellation - 2016" Contest Award Ceremony, that took place in Moscow! The "Israel Museum 50th Anniversary" 1oz Gold.9999 Bullion Coin, sixth in the "Jerusalem of Gold" Bullion Coin Series, won third place in the "Classic Coin" Category. The coin was chosen among the winning coins of the contest, out of more than 240 commemorative coins and 21 coin series issued in 2015, submitted by 44 participants from 29 countries around the world.