Sigmund Freud

SIGMUND FREUD
4th in the "Jewish Contributors to World Culture" Series
Official Medal, 2000/5760

In 1856, Sigmund Freud was born into a Jewish family in Moravia, which was part of Czechoslovakia. At age 4, he emigrated with his family to Vienna, where he lived until 1938. Freud studied Medicine and his research in the nervous system led him to specialize in Psychiatry. In France, he became an expert in hypnotism and developed the use of the technique of free associations. He came to the conclusion that unconscious mental processes and repression were the origin of many metal disorders. In 1895, Freud published his Studies in Hysteria together with Joseph Breuer. This was considered to be the start of Psychoanalysis. The death of his father brought Freud to his "self-analysis", which in actual fact was to form the basis of his theories. In 1900, he published his Interpretation of Dreams, which contained the main principles of his psychoanalytic theories. Freud took special interest in literature and art and was particularly impressed by the famous sculpture "Moses" by Michelangelo, which appears on the medal reverse. This sculpture motivated Freud into writing his last book Moses and Monotheism.

Obverse: To the left, a portrait of Sigmund Freud on a mirror-like background. To the right, "Sigmund Freud" in Hebrew and English and below Freud's spectacles and signature.

Reverse: Michelangelo's sculpture of Moses. In the upper right-hand border, "Moses and Monotheism", in the lower right-hand border, the signature of Michelangelo.

Edge: Israel State Emblem, "State of Israel" in Hebrew and English, Metal and Serial Number.

Designer: Ruben Nutels.

Engraving: Tidhar Dagan.

Mint: Gold – Government Mint, Jerusalem.
Silver and Bronze – Hecht, Tel Aviv.