Church of the Nativity

CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY
Second in the "Sites of the Holy Land" Numismatic Bullion Series

The Church of the Nativity, is a basilica located in Bethlehem, Israel, 10km south of Jerusalem, on the site of the cave in which, according to Christian tradition, Jesus was born. The basilica is the oldest major church in the Holy Land.

Originally commissioned in 327 by the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great and his mother Helena, the church was completed in 339, adorned with marble and mosaics. After it was destroyed by fire in the 6th century, a new basilica was built in 565 by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, who restored the architectural tone of the original church and retained its original floor mosaics.

Today the area of the church covers approximately 12,000 square meters and includes three monasteries.

The Church of the Nativity was included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, in 2012.

Face: Interior of the Church of the Nativity, the Mint Year
Inscriptions:  "Church of the Nativity" in English and Hebrew, 1oz. Fine Gold .9999 on the gold, 1oz. Fine Silver .999 on the silver
Common Reverse of the Series: Collage of different sites in Jerusalem – In the background to the right, the Holy Trinity Church in the Russian Compound, to the left, the YMCA building, in the foreground to the right, the Garden Tomb and to the left, Jesus praying at Gethsemane, front left, part of the "Agony in the Garden" painting by Andrea Montegna.
The Holy Land Mint trademark, Inscription "Holy Land Sites" in English and Hebrew.

 Design: Ruben Nutels