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1 New Sheqel Jonah in the Whale
| Issuer | Bank of Israel |
|---|---|
| Year | 2010 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 1.244 g |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Arabic, Hebrew, Latin |
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| Reverse description | The reverse presents a stylized, modern artistic composition depicting Jonah in prayer within the belly of the great fish. The figure of Jonah is shown with arms outstretched in supplication, rendered in a bold, simplified graphic style against the curved interior form of the whale, which fills the coin's field. Above the whale, a dove in flight emerges, symbolizing divine deliverance and the answer to Jonah's prayer. The interplay of the whale's sinuous body and the figure creates a dynamic yin-yang-like composition in high relief. The design is unlettered, relying entirely on the imagery to convey the biblical narrative. |
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| Additional information |
Part of the Bank of Israel's ongoing "Biblical Art" series, this miniature gold issue was produced in a limited mintage intended primarily for the collector market rather than circulation. The series draws on commissions from Israeli artists, and the tiny flan imposes real compositional constraints that make the engravers' work considerably more demanding than standard commemorative formats.
Jonah's narrative in the Hebrew Bible is unusually spare — three chapters, a reluctant prophet, a fish, and a city that repents. Rabbinic tradition elaborated extensively on what happened inside the whale, including the notion that Jonah could see through its eyes like windows.