Chaim Weizmann

Chaim Weizmann
Special Coin Issue 5723-1962

Dr. Chaim Weizmann was born in Russia in 1874. He studied chemistry at universities in Germany and Switzerland. He was a regular participant in Zionist Congresses, beginning with the second one and was regarded as spokesman for the "young generation".
In 1916 he was appointed head of the chemical laboratories of the British Admiralty. He developed the concept of "Zionism, a synthesis" which calls for a combination of political and practical work in the Land of Israel. He succeeded in obtaining the Balfour Declaration. From 1921 he was president of the Zionist Federation and in 1929 he established the enlarged Jewish Agency and was elected as its president, in 1934 he founded the Daniel Sieff Institute for Research in Rehovot which subsequently became the Weizmann Institute of Science. From 1936 on he was in the center of the political struggle which led up to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. He was chosen Israel's first president and served until his death on November 9, 1952.
The coin was issued to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Dr. Chaim Weizmann's death.

Obverse:
In the center the emblem of the State of Israel with the word "Israel" beneath in Hebrew, to the left in English and to the right in Arabic. Around the upper rim the Hebrew inscription "Fifty Israeli Lirot" on the small coin and "One Hundred Israeli Lirot" on the large coin. Around the lower border, the anniversary years 5713-5723 -1952-1962 in Hebrew and in English.

Reverse:
In the upper right, a portrait of Weizmann, facing left, within an incuse rectangle with rounded corners. In the lower border, the emblem of the State of Israel and the Hebrew inscription "Chaim Weizmann".

Edge:
Milled.

Mint Marks:
The letter "mem" on the obverse of the coins below the emblem. 10 sets each of the 50 Lirot and 100 Lirot coins do not bear the letter "mem".

Designer:
Obverse - Miriam Karoli.
Reverse - Andre Lasserre, Switzerland.

Mint:
The Swiss Federal Mint, Berne.