State Medal - Liberation

Features

Location Israel
Type Commemorative medals › Religious medal
Year 1959
Composition Copper
Weight 105 g
Diameter 61 mm
Shape Round
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
Number
N#
92125

Commemorative issue

Liberation

Obverse

In the center - symbol of Israel's liberation". A farmer planting a tree, a gleeful woman holding her child aloft, a seven branched palm tree bearing two clusters of fruit. Around the rim, the Hebrew inscription "A decade of Israel's Liberation 571 (1948) and in Latin "Israel Liberation".

Lettering:
• ISRAEL LIBERATA •
עשוד לחרות ישראל תשי"ח

Translation:
Israel Liberation
A Decade of Israel's Liberation 5718(1948)

Engravers: Gerd Rothschild, Zeev Lipman

Reverse

A duplicate of a Roman coin struck on the occasion of the conquest of Jerusalem by Vespasian in the year 70 C.E. On the left, Vespasian the victor; on the right a mourning Hebrew woman sitting under a palm tree, the symbol of Judea. The edge of the Roman coin bears the Latin inscription "Judea Capta", Judea captured, below, the letters S.C. standing for "Senatus Consultum", by order of the Senate. Around the rim of the medallion, a chain, the symbol of captivity, and a Hebrew inscription "Judea in Exile 3830 (70 C.E.).

Lettering:
IVDAEA CAPTA
S C
גלתה יהודה • תת"ל

Translation:
Judea Captured
S.C.
Judea in Exile 3830 (70 C.E.)

Engravers: Gerd Rothschild, Zeev Lipman

Edge

Smooth

Mints

Emanograph, Tel Aviv, Israel
Kretschmer Mint, Jerusalem, Israel

Comments

The consequences of the great Judean Revolt against Rome which began in 66 CE. had a dire effect upon Jewish history. All the valor and the fierce fanaticism of the defenders could not withstand the onslaughts of the Roman legions stationed locally and later reinforced by two additional legions drawn from the Danube legion and the auxiliary forces recruited from the nearby provinces. The Temple was destroyed in 70 CE. and Titus celebrated his victory.
The Romans struck a special series of coins to commemorate the occasion known as the "Judea Capta" series, so named for the inscription on the coins "Judea in Captivity". The palm tree on the coins generally stands for Judea. At the side of the tree, a Jewish captive (a man or a woman), prizes of war, an image of the victorious Emperor, or other representatives.
The "Liberation" medal was first issued by Israel in 1958 in connection with its Tenth Anniversary. The State Medal depicts the contrast - the destruction of the Temple versus the renewal of Jewish Independence in our time. A Hebrew farmer planting a sapling in place of a Jewish captive hand bound; a jubilant Hebrew mother holding her infant aloft instead of the sorrowful Jewish woman weeping for the destruction of her homeland.

See also

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Date Mintage VG F VF XF AU UNC Frequency
ND (1959)  20 000 63% Emanograph
ND (1959)  5 000 25% Kretschmer

Frequencies show the percentage of Numista users who own each year or variety among all the users who own this item. Since some users own several versions, the sum may be greater than 100%.

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