Israel - 1 New Sheqel 2010 - Jonah in the Belly of the Fish - Gold 999, 1.244g (0.04 oz pure gold), 13.92mm

Israel - 1 New Sheqel 2010 - Jonah in the Belly of the Fish - Gold 999, 1.244g (0.04 oz pure gold), 13.92mm Only 10% Commission + VAT on this item. Mintage: 1,800 “Jonah in the Belly of the Fish” coin, dated 2010, the fifteenth issue in the “Biblical Art” series issued by the Bank of Israel. This coin received the prestigious “Coin of the Year” award in 2012. The coin commemorates the biblical story of the prophet Jonah, who was commanded by God to travel to the great city of Nineveh and call upon its people to repent from their evil ways. Jonah initially refuses the mission and attempts to flee by ship from the port of Jaffa toward Tarshish. A violent storm threatens the ship, and lots are cast to determine who caused God’s anger - “the lot fell upon Jonah.” After Jonah admits that he is fleeing from God, he is thrown into the sea to save the ship and its crew. God then sends a “great fish” to swallow Jonah, and he remains in its belly for three days and three nights. From within the fish Jonah prays with all his heart, and eventually he is delivered safely to dry land. Jonah then fulfills his mission, and the people of Nineveh repent and are spared destruction. The obverse features the denomination in Hebrew and English, the State emblem, the name of Israel in Hebrew and Arabic, and the year of issue. Around the rim appears the inscription “Jonah in the Belly of the Fish” in three languages, together with a figure of Jonah in prayer. The reverse depicts Jonah praying from within the belly of the fish, inspired by the biblical verses: “All Thy waves and Thy billows passed over me” and “My prayer came unto Thee, into Thy holy temple.”