Expulsion from Spain, 500th Anniversary

500th Anniversary of the Expulsion from Spain
State Medal, 1992 5752

One thousand five-hundred years of Jewish life in Spain came to an end in 1492 with the expulsion of the Jews. Throughout those 15 centuries, under Roman, Visigoth, Moslem and Christian rule, Spanish Jewry cultivated a community life unparalleled in cultural achievement and richness. Creative activity flourished among Hebrew linguists, Bible exegetists, poets and philosophers, including Ibn Gabirol, Yehuda Halevi, and Ibn Ezra and rabbis such as Isaac Alfassi and Joseph Ibn Migash. The Inquisition aimed at eradicating all hope of returning to Judaism among forced converts to Christianity. This led to the order of expulsion, signed by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella on March 31,1492, and the expulsion of some 200,000 Jews from Spain.

Obverse: Map illustrating the expulsion with arrows showing the routes taken by the refugees and a sailing ship typical of the period. Below the map is the passage "I SHALL NOT DIE BUT LIVE" in Hebrew and English. Around the circumference, above, the words "500 ANOS DE LA EXPULSION" in Hebrew and Spanish; below, "1492-1992.5252-5752".

Reverse:  Wall from the 14th century Shmuel Halevi Abulafia Synagogue of Toledo with inscribed Psalms. On the right, a Jew in the traditional costume of the Moslem period, the seal of Todros Halevi and, in the background, the Kabbalistic spheres. Below, the verse "My heart longed for the courtyards of the Lord" in Hebrew.

Edge: State emblem with the words "STATE OF ISRAEL! in Hebrew on the right and in English on the left and serial number. Bronze/tombac medal - "BRONZE" in Hebrew and English; Silver medal - "S 999" in Hebrew and English; 24 mm. gold medal - "G-750" in Hebrew and English; 35 mm. gold medal - "G-916.6" in Hebrew and English.

Serialization: All medals are numbered. Bronze/tombac - 4,825 numbered, 10 melted; Silver - 2,136 numbered, 2 melted; 35 mm. Gold - 950 numbered, 6 melted.

Designer: Obverse: Nathan Karp. Reverse: Galia and Han Eisen

Engraving: Kretschmer

Mint: Kretschmer