One of only 10 known 1960 Israel eight-grain 1 Agora patterns and a unique Shekel Prize Medal will be among more than 1,000 lots offered when a major collection of Israeli coins, medals and Judaica crosses the auction block Oct. 19-20.
Goldberg Coins & Collectibles of Los Angeles will offer the collection in four sessions, including three devoted to coins and medals. A fourth will feature Bibles, books and other material related to the Holy Land.
Among the leading numismatic pieces is the 1960 1 Agora pattern, distinguished by eight grains on the left barley stalk instead of the 10 found on coins ultimately issued for circulation.
According to cataloguer Mel Wacks, only 10 examples of the eight-grain pattern are known.
The Bank of Israel introduced a new scalloped aluminum 1 Agora coin in 1960 featuring three barley stalks. During development, a trial or pattern coin produced by Imperial Chemical Industries in Birmingham, England, depicted eight grains on the left stalk.
The Bank of Israel’s design committee subsequently changed the design, specifying 10 grains on the left stalk. That version was adopted for the circulation issue. Because the alteration occurred before mass production, Wacks said only a small number of the original eight-grain patterns survived.
Another significant offering is a Shekel Prize Medal issued by the American Israel Numismatic Association (AINA).
Wacks describes it as the “rarest item in this auction.”
The Shekel Prize has been presented annually since 2018 to authors of books dealing with Judaean or Israeli coins and medals. According to Wacks, only one Shekel Prize Medal was made available to the public.
That medal was originally engraved with the recipient’s name spelled incorrectly. The name was subsequently removed and the medal sold to the collector whose holdings are now being auctioned. Wacks describes the example as unique.
Designed by Victor Huster, the high-relief medal depicts three forms of the shekel: an eighth-century BCE shekel stone weight, a shekel from the First Jewish Revolt of 66-70 CE and Israel’s 1 new shekel introduced in 1985.
FIVE DECADES OF COLLECTING
A small portion of the Holy Land Sale of the Century collection is shown packed for shipment. About 50 boxes and large containers were needed to transport the 1,000-pound collection of coins, medals and other material from Kansas to California. (Photo courtesy of Goldberg Coins & Collectibles)
The collection was assembled over more than 50 years by a Kansas collector who was born in Israel and has chosen to remain anonymous.
His interest began at an early age after his father purchased the first medal issued by the Israel Government Coins and Medals Corporation (IGCMC). The collector later made frequent visits to the corporation’s Jerusalem headquarters and accumulated coins, medals and related material, including limited editions and individually numbered pieces.
The collection eventually grew to approximately 1,000 pounds and required about 50 boxes and containers to ship to California for the auction.
Goldberg describes it as the largest private collection of material issued by the IGCMC to be offered at auction. The corporation was established in 1958 to issue medals and other numismatic material commemorating Israel’s history, prominent individuals and achievements in culture, science and art.
GOLD MEDALS
The auction includes a substantial amount of gold, including medals depicting the 12 ancient tribes of Israel.
The large oval .750-fine gold Proof medals were issued in 1973 for Israel’s 25th anniversary and feature Salvador Dali’s Hora Around the Menorah design on the reverse. Another offering brings together six Women in Art .750-fine gold state medals. Each 36-by-45-millimetre oval medal depicts artwork by prominent artists, including Eugène Delacroix, Camille Pissarro and Rembrandt.
The collection also includes medals incorporating coloured images of artwork by Rembrandt, Amedeo Modigliani and others.
Salvador Dali-designed gold medals depicting the 12 tribes of Israel are among the highlights of Goldberg’s Oct. 19-20 sale. (Photo courtesy of Goldberg Coins & Collectibles)
Wacks, an author and co-founder and past president of AINA, is cataloguing the collection. He is also a co-founder of the Biblical Numismatic Society.
According to Wacks, many of the gold coins rank among the two or three finest examples known. The auction, however, is not limited to high-value material.
Numerous lower-priced lots are included, with subject matter ranging from biblical quotations and scenes to tanks and ships. Groups of large bronze medals are also being offered, including lots containing 16 different pieces estimated at less than $100.
Goldberg has billed the event as its “Holy Land Sale of the Century.” More than 1,000 coins and medals will be offered individually or in groups during three auction sessions, while the fourth session will include medals, Bibles and other books and Judaica.
Online bidding will be available for the Oct. 19-20 sale through Goldberg Coins & Collectibles.