Solomon's Judgement

Solomon's Judgement
Biblical Art Coin,1995 /5756

Solomon's Judgement is the second coin in the Biblical Art Coin Series devoted to famous works of art portraying Biblical subjects. The design is based upon a 13th century work taken from the "Miscellany" book by Rabbi David Kimhi (Radak), France, ca. 1280. It vividly depicts the famous scene of two women and a baby, each woman claiming to King Solomon that she is the baby's mother. The scene is known as the Judgement of Solomon and has become a symbol of the king's wisdom because of the brilliant way in which he solved the dilemma and discovered the baby's real mother. We still use the saying 'Judgement of Solomon" as a way of expressing the need to find a just solution to a dispute between two people.

Obverse: Face value in Hebrew and English, 1 New Sheqel on the silver B.U. coin, 2 New Sheqalim on the Silver Proof Coin, 10 New Sheqalim on the Gold Coin, beneath the face value, the mint year and below, the word "ISRAEL in Hebrew, Arabic and English. Left is the State emblem and beneath it, a decorative element representing a crown, border inscription "Solomon's judgement•miscellany•France c.1280" in English and Hebrew.

Reverse: 13th century French work depicting Solomon's Judgement

Edge: Silver B.U. Coin - smooth, Silver Proof and Gold Coin - milled

Mint Marks: Silver B.U. Coin - Star of David, Silver Proof and Gold Coin - Hebrew letter "Mem"

Designer: Obverse - Gideon Keich, Reverse - Oswald Adler

Plaster reliefs: Tidhar Dagan

Mint: Silver B.U. and Silver Proof Coins - Stuttgart Mint, Gold Coin - Royal Canadian Mint