03 June 2019
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Israel Mint has revealed the design of the ninth in its Jerusalem of Gold series - a 1oz coin featuring Jerusalem windmill.
The coin, designed by Osnat Eshel, is legal tender in Israel and issued by Bank of Israel. The obverse has the lion of Meddigo, whilst the reverse features Jerusalem Windmill, with the outline of the Old City of Jersualem and the Tower of David.
The word Jerusalem is written in English, Hebrew and Arabic on the upper right and the design also features the face value "20 New Shekels" and mint year in Hebrew and English. Below is the Star of David mint mark, around the lower border is the metal fineness and weight, “1 oz. fine gold .9999” in Hebrew and English.
Jerusalem windmill
Writing on the Israel Mint website, ITravel, the official Jerusalem travel site provides the following introduction to the history of the windmill:
Montefiore Windmill was named for its funder, British Jewish philanthropist Moses (or Moshe in Hebrew) Montefiore. It was built in 1857 at the site where the Mishkenot Sha’ananim neighborhood would be established 12 years later.
It was originally designed as a flour mill, and was part of Montefiore’s project to help the Old Yishuv become more self-sufficient. Montefiore, who was devoted to promoting industry in the Holy Land, also built a printing press and a textile factory and undertook many more projects.
The windmill was phased out of use as a flour mill in 1891, after the Jewish community began using steam-powered mills to grind their wheat. However, it continued to bear a cultural significance and during the 1948 War of Independence was used by Jewish fighters as an observation point.
British authorities responded by bombing the windmill, an assault aptly titled “Operation Don Quixote.”
Coin details
Metal: .9999
Denomination: 20NIS
Mintage: 3,600
Weight: 31.1g
Diameter: 32.0mm
To order the coin, click here.
QUICK LINK: Coins celebrating the life of Captain James Cook
(image copyright Israel Mint)
