Church of the Annunciation

Church of the Annunciation
The third in the numismatic bullion series "Holy Land Sites"

The Church of the Annunciation, also known as the "Basilica of the Annunciation," is one of the most sacred places in the Christian world. According to Christian Catholic tradition and located in the center of Nazareth, the Church of Annunciation stands on a site that is the home of the Virgin Mary where the angel Gabriel told her the good news: she is expected to carry Jesus in her womb.

The church was designed by the Italian architect Giovanni Mitzio and inaugurated in 1969. The church planners wanted to incorporate on the site  the sacred Gospel Cave and the remains of the Jewish settlement from the time of Jesus. The church architecture utilizes elements of churches and earlier cathedrals ranging from the Roman period through the Byzantine, Crusader and Ottoman periods. The church doors depict many scenes that illustrate the connection between the Old Testament and the New Testament, the words of the prophets, as well as scenes from the life and works of Jesus. Its large gray cone dome, topped by a lighthouse-like lamp, has made the Church of the Annunciation the most prominent structure in the city of Nazareth and its landmark.

Face: The interior features the cone dome of the church with a cross prominently highlighted at the top, church doors depicting elaborate scenes of historical importance, the mint year , type and purity of the metal, as well as the inscriptions in Hebrew and English that read, “Church of the Annunciation.”
Common Reverse of the Series: The common side of the series displays a collage of pictures of the holy sites in Jerusalem in the Christian tradition. The Church of the Holy Trinity in the Russian compound is highlighted in the background to the right, and to the left is the YMCA building. In the front, the tomb garden is set to the right, with Jesus praying in the winepress to the left, next to Andrea Mantania, “Anguish in the Garden.” The international trademark of The Holy Land Mint, “Holy Land Sites,” is inscribed in Hebrew and English.

 Design: Ruben Nutels

 Minting: The Holy Land Mint