Liberation-1

Judaea Capta – Israel Liberata SM-1
Liberation-1
The First State Medal, 1958

The first State Medal of Israel was issued in 1958, under the auspices of Israel's Tenth Anniversary—World Committee, and was suggested by the late Leo Kadman as early as 1948, but at the time was too premature. In Israel the medals could only be bought by the tourists and for foreign currency only.
Patterns exist in 42 and 45 mm, 4 and 5 mm thick, with a weight of 52 and 62 grams in copper and silver plate. All varieties are rare.

Obverse: A replica of contemporary Roman coin that was struck to record Vespasian's conquest of Judea in 70 CE.
To the left stands the emperor, and to the right, the seated figure of a mourning Jewess beneath a ten-branched palm tree that bears two clusters.
The Latin inscription "Judaea Capta" on the sides, beneath, the letters "SC" for Senatus Consultum.
A chain surrounds most of the scene apart from the Hebrew words, "The Dispersion of Judaea" and the Hebrew year "3830" of the exile.

Reverse: To the left, an Israeli woman holding a sheaf of corn in her right arm, and to the right, an Israeli worker with a hoe, over his right shoulder, between them the seven-branched palm tree.
The Latin inscription "Israel Liberata" on the sides, beneath, "Jerusalem" in Hebrew and above and on the rim, "Ten Years Freedom of Israel" and below, "5718" (1958) also in Hebrew, between five six-pointed stars on each side.

Edge: "Israel Government Approved Issue 1948-1958" in English, between two State emblems (the Menorah) in an incuse inscription.

Designer: Otte Wallish

Mint: John Pinches Ltd., London

All medals are sold out-discontinued.

*Note: There are restrikes of the gold medal probably from the original die now being sold.
The impression is not as fine as the original and the edges are raised and sharp.
Lettering on edge is lager on the restrike.