Israel - The Israel Museum, Official Medal, 1965 - Silver 935, 47 g (Approx. 43.95 g Pure Silver, Approx. 1.41 Troy ...

Israel - The Israel Museum, Official Medal, 1965 - Silver 935, 47 g (Approx. 43.95 g Pure Silver, Approx. 1.41 Troy oz), 45 mm An official Israeli medal issued in 1965, marking the opening of The Israel Museum in Jerusalem, one of Israel’s most important cultural and artistic institutions. The Israel Museum opened on May 11, 1965. Its establishment was made possible through cultural vision, generous donations, and significant resources, with the aim of creating a major national institution dedicated to art, archaeology, Jewish culture, and historical heritage. The museum buildings were designed in terraces, blending into the Jerusalem landscape. The main building housed the collections of the Bezalel National Museum and the Samuel Bronfman Museum of Biblical and Archaeological Antiquities. The Shrine of the Book displays the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in the Judean Desert, together with important biblical manuscripts, while the Billy Rose Art Garden features an impressive outdoor sculpture display. Obverse: At the center appears the inscription: "מוזיאון ישראל" "THE ISRAEL MUSEUM" "LE MUSÉE D’ISRAEL" Around the rim appear stylized designs of the museum buildings, emphasizing their distinctive architectural character and their integration into the Jerusalem landscape. Reverse: At the center appears a realistic representation of the stone menorah found in the ancient synagogue at Hammat Tiberias, dating to the second century. The branches of the menorah are decorated with pomegranate motifs, with small oil depressions shown above them. An important and attractive official silver medal, commemorating the opening of The Israel Museum in Jerusalem and its central role in preserving the artistic, archaeological, and cultural heritage of the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.