ABRAHAM AND SARAH
OFFICIAL MEDAL 5766/2006
1st in the “Monitin” Series of 4 Medals
In the language of the Midrash, “Monitin” means coins, similar to the term used in many other languages – Money, Moneta and Monnaie. According to the Midrash, since a coin travels the world, “He who has a coin bearing his name…… is known and recognized by all.” In modern Hebrew, “Monitin” means reputation or renown.
The Midrash mentions the coins issued in honor of four biblical personalities - Abraham, Joshua, David and Mordechai – and describes both sides of the coins.
The Israel Government Coins and Medals Corporation decided to issue medals with the designs of the coins described in the Midrash. A competition was conducted among students at the Emunah Art Academy for Women, under the direction of Meir Eshel.
The first medal is dedicated to Abraham and Sarah. The Midrash describes “an elderly man and elderly woman on one side, a boy and girl on the other”. The coin symbolizes the miracle of the birth of Isaac to such elderly parents.
JOSHUA
OFFICIAL MEDAL 5766/2006
Second in the Series of 4 "Monitin" Medals
In the Midrash, it is told that four leading biblical personalities, Abraham, Joshua, David and Mordechai, had coins issued in their honor and through these coins each of them gained world renown. The word used by the Midrash for "Coin" is the word "Monitin" and, interestingly, this appears to be the root of the words "Money", "Monnaie" and "Moneta" that stem from Latin. In modern Hebrew, the word "Monitin" denotes "good reputation". The Midrash also describes the designs that appeared on each side of the coins.
Israel Government Coins and Medals Corporation has chosen to strike the coins described in the Midrash, on medals. Art Students of the "Emunah" Academy for Women, Jerusalem, have been invited to submit designs and the winning designs have been chosen out of those submitted. First in the series was the"Abraham and Sarah" Medal that was introduced in our last promotion. This came in a Set Presentation Box designed to hold all the four medals in the series. Each of the medal versions of this medal are still available and the whole series may be ordered on a standing order basis.
We now proudly present the"Joshua" Medal. "The firstling of his herd, grandeur is his, and his horns are like the horns of a wild ox..." is the blessing bestowed upon the Tribe of Joseph, by Moses, before his death. Joshua came from the Tribe of Ephraim, the son of Joseph. These are the elements on the "Joshua" Coin described by the Mishnah. The ox signifies the strength of Joshua and the horns of the antelope, his majesty and courage. Joshua was the leader who succeeded in his mission despite the hardships and quarrels of the people. In face of the enemy, nevertheless, he remained steadfast, like the "horns of the antelope". These two aspects of his personality are expressed on the two sides of the medal.
David - Third in the Monitin Series
Official Medal 5767/2006
The Midrash relates that four biblical personalities, Abraham, Joshua, David and Mordechai, had coins issued in their honor and through these coins each of them gained world renown. The Midrash also describes the designs that appeared on each side of the coins. Israel Government Coins and Medals Corporation has chosen to strike the coins described in the Midrash, on medals. The coin dedicated to David is described thus in the Midrash: “Staff and Pack on one side and a Citadel on the other” relating to “the Tower of David”.
MORDECHAI
OFFICIAL MEDAL 5767/2007,Fourth and last in the "Monitin" Medal Series
The Midrash relates that Mordechai was "Great in the House of the King and renowned in all the lands"...."and for what was his Monitin, his reputation, sack and ashes on the one hand and a golden crown on the other".
According to the Midrash, the coin issued in honor of Mordechai depicts the upturning of circumstances from death decree and mourning to joy and royalty. Mordechai first sits in fast, clothed in sack and ashes, praying and beseeching for the annulation of the harsh decree. Finally, he goes out before the King "in royal attire...and the City of Shushan rejoiced and was glad". The coin publicized the miracle that occurred to the Jews.
The "Mordechai" Medal concludes the series of four medals whose designs are based on the descriptions in the Midrash of the coins issued in honor of the four renowed biblical personalities: Abraham, Joshua, David and Mordechai.
