Item number: A1679

Year: AD 1977

Material: Silver (.500)

Size: 34.0 x 34.0 x 2.6 mm

Weight: 20.00g

Manufactured by: Israel Government Coins and medals Corp., Jerusalem Mint

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps & Coins Collection 2014

This is a 10 Lira commemorative silver coin, minted in AD 1977 by the Jerusalem Mint of the Israel Government Coins and Medals Corporation and issued by the Bank of Israel.

The obverse of the coin features a traditional Hanukkah lamp used by American Jews during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah (חנוכה). The right side of the coin bears the inscription “חנוכיה קדומה מארה”ב EARLY AMERICAN HANUKKA LAMP”, with the Hebrew and English text conveying the same meaning. Hanukka (or Hanukkah) is a significant Jewish festival commemorating the Maccabaean Revolt (מרד החשמונאים) against the Seleucid Empire and the imposition of Hellenistic culture. According to tradition, during the conflict, the remaining oil in the Holy Temple was insufficient to sustain the eternal flame, yet a single day’s supply miraculously burned for eight days. Based on this account, Jewish religious observance during Hanukkah involves lighting the menorah sequentially over eight days, in addition to a ninth auxiliary candle (Shamash) used to ignite the others.

The reverse of the coin displays the denomination “10 לירות”, signifying 10 Lira, at the centre. The inscriptions encircling the lower right side of the coin, arranged sequentially from the upper left, are as follows: the Arabic inscription “اسرائيل”, signifying “Israel”; “1976” and “תשל”ז”, both denoting the year of issue as AD 1976 and 5736 in the Hebrew calendar, respectively; and “ISRAEL” and “ישראל”, representing the name “Israel” in English and Hebrew, respectively.

The Israel Government Coins and Medals Corporation was established in AD 1958 by David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel. Until AD 2008, it operated as a government-controlled entity, authorised by the Bank of Israel to produce various commemorative coins and medals. Each year, new commemorative coins are typically issued, often featuring themes related to religion, historical events, and national heritage.

In AD 1976, the United States lifted its freeze on aid to Israel, ceasing its efforts to pressure the Middle East into achieving peace and instead recognising Israel as a strategic ally in countering Soviet influence in the region. In AD 1977, U.S. President Jimmy Carter advocated for Middle East peace and the establishment of a Palestinian state. That same year, the right-wing Likud party won the Israeli elections. While the new government adopted a more assertive diplomatic stance, it also initiated dialogue with Egypt, working alongside the United States and Egypt to facilitate Anwar Sadat’s historic visit to Israel in AD 1977. The design of this commemorative coin may not necessarily be directly linked to contemporary political events; however, it nonetheless served as a symbolic reminder of the connection between the American Jewish community and Israel.

物件編號: A1679

年代: 公元 1977 年

材質: 銀 (500‰)

尺寸: 34.0 x 34.0 x 2.6 mm

重量: 20.00g

製造地: 以色列政府硬幣與獎章公司，耶路撒冷鑄幣廠

來源: 大城郵幣社 2014

這是一枚公元1977年，由以色列政府硬幣與獎章公司的耶路撒冷鑄幣廠鑄造，以色列銀行發行的10里拉紀念銀幣。

銀幣的正面是美國猶太人在猶太教光明節(חנוכה‎)所使用的傳統燭台。右側環繞著幣文「חנוכיה קדומה מארה”ב EARLY AMERICAN HANUKKA LAMP」，希伯來文與英文的意思均為「早期美國光明節燈台」。光明節是猶太教的傳統節日，為了紀念反抗塞琉古帝國與希臘文化滲透的馬加比起義(מרד החשמונאים‎)。相傳在戰鬥中，所剩的燈油不敷聖殿使用，但一日份量的燈油竟然燃燒八日未熄。依此傳說，後世光明節儀式中，猶太教徒會每日依序點燃燈台，持續八日，加上用以引燃其餘燈台的僕燈，共九座燈台。

銀幣的背面中央為面額「10 לירות」，即10里拉。右下環繞的「اسرائيل」、「1976」、「תשל”ז」、「ISRAEL」、「ישראל」。分別為阿拉伯文的「以色列」、阿拉伯數字「1976」、希伯來文猶太紀年「5736」(相當於公元1976年)、英文的「以色列」與希伯來文的「以色列」。

以色列政府硬幣與獎章公司，由首任以色列總理大衛·本·古里安於公元1958年設立，於公元2008年前都是由政府全權管理的公司，由以色列銀行授權生產各類紀念幣與獎章。通常每年都會發行新紀念幣，題材多與宗教、歷史事件等相關。

公元1976年，美國解除對於以色列的援助凍結，不再迫使中東達成和平，而是將以色列視為在該區域遏制蘇聯的盟友。公元1977年，美國總統卡特倡議中東和平與巴勒斯坦建國，同年，以色列右翼集團「利庫德」當選總理，雖然外交態度轉趨強硬，但也展開了與埃及的交流與對話，與美、埃一同促成公元1977 年安瓦爾·薩達特對以色列的訪問。該紀念幣的圖樣可能未必與時事相關，但仍有意提醒美國猶太裔社群與以色列的連結。