The first coin from the Modern State of Israel, struck on August 17 1948 was not - as some believe - the prutah; it was actually a 25 mils coin, which circulated alongside old Palestinian Mandate mils coins (struck by the British) from 1948-1952.
An initial unsuccessful batch of coins dated 5708/1948 was minted at a workshop in the Hakirya compound in Tel Aviv (the former German Templer colony of Sarona...remember I talked to you about the Templers who settled in Haifa, a few days ago?)
Coins were also minted at the Michsaf cutlery factory in Holon by Yosef Gannoy; he modified a cutlery stamping press to hold coinage dies, which were cut by Saloh Kluegermann, a brother of the factory owner. It is believed that fewer than 100 1948 coins were issued, and only 30-40 are known to remain in circulation today.
Michsaf also minted 42,650 mils coins dated 5709/1949. Other coins are believed to have been minted in Jerusalem in 1948, but written documentation about the location & name of the Mint is unavailable.
The 25 mils coin weighed 3.8 g & was 30mm in diameter, with a plain edge. The obverse shows a bunch of grapes, based upon the design of coins struck during the Bar-Kochba Revolt (132-135 CE) which in turn were taken from a bronze prutah of Herod Archelaus (circa 4 BCE).
The stylised reverse wreath was adapted from coins of John Hyrkanos (135-104 BCE)
Below is an image of a 500 mil (½ pound) note issued by the Anglo-Palestine Bank in Tel Aviv, 18 August 1948.
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