Israel's 40th Anniversary

The State of Israel was not established in a day. For more than sixty years before its establishment, during the period of Ottoman rule and the British Mandate, hundreds of thousands of pioneers came to Eretz Israel from all parts of the Diaspora to work the land and made the desert bloom. They established settlements, kibbutzim and towns and laid the foundations for national independence and renewed Hebrew culture. "If you will, it is no legend," said Herzl more than 50 years before the State of Israel was proclaimed. The legend became a reality. On the 5th of lyar, 5708 (May 14, 1948), 1,878 years after the destruction of the Temple by the Romans, the National Council, headed by David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the State of Israel.

Obverse: The 40th Anniversary emblem, with a stylized menorah. Below, the world "Israel" in Hebrew, Latin and Arabic characters. Along the circumference, the words "ISRAEL'S 40th ANNIVERSARY" in Hebrew and English, separated by Stars of David

Reverse: Along the circumference, the inscription "ERETZ ISRAEL WAS THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE" (from the Declaration of Independence) with a Star of David at the end of the inscription. The same quotation in Hebrew in the center, with the date "5 lyar 5708-5748" in Hebrew and the years "1948-1988" below it.

Edge: State emblem; to the right, "STATE OF ISRAEL' in Hebrew and to the left in English with the serial number.

Designer: Adler Studio

Mint: Bronze/Tombac - Moshe Hecht. Silver 18 mm. and nickel - Credit Gold. Silver 37 mm and gold - The Government Mint.