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2 New Sheqalim Hanukkah - Persian Lamp
| Issuer | Bank of Israel |
|---|---|
| Year | 1989 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 2 New Sheqalim |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse displays a finely detailed depiction of an ancient Persian Hanukkah lamp (hanukiah), rendered in high relief against a smooth, mirror-like proof field. The lamp is of a star-shaped, multi-pointed form with a central oil well and a broad, ornately decorated rim, characteristic of Persian Jewish metalwork. Below the lamp, a Hebrew legend in a single arc reads 'חנוכיה קדומה מפרס' ('Ancient Hanukkah Lamp from Persia'). The design emphasizes the historical and cultural significance of this Diaspora Judaica artifact. |
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| Reverse lettering | חנוכיה קדומה מפרס |
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| Additional information |
Israel's annual Hanukkah coin series, running since 1958, ties each year's issue to a lamp from a specific Jewish diaspora community — in this case, Persia. The Persian lamp chosen reflects the long history of Jewish settlement in Iran, a community that predates the Islamic conquest by over a millennium and was still substantially intact when this coin was struck, though sharply diminished following the 1979 revolution.
The .850 fineness is characteristic of Israeli silver commemoratives of this period, slightly below sterling — a cost consideration that created its own consistent series identity.