ISRAEL 10 PRUTAH 1949

This coin was minted in the modern state of Israel. As with many Israeli coins it depicts imagery and motif adopted from its ancient heritage and historic past. It is a modern extension of ancient Jewish coinage motif.

This 10 prutah coin is of the first type minted for the new Israeli state in 1949 and depicts a elegant amphora on the obverse and a circular wreath on the reverse. The amphora symbolized sacred libations used in temple services while the wreath may have symbolized leadership, authority and royalty.

Top right is an ancient example if a prutah showing an amphora minted in 69 A.D., the year of the Emperor Nero's death and during the so called "Jewish Wars". The lower right coin was struck some time under Nero and shows the use of the wreath. Its a coin of Marcus Julius Agrippa or King Herod Agrippa II, seventh and last king of the family of Herod the Great. It was before this king loyal to the Romans that Paul pleaded his cause at Caesarea Palaestina.

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