Pre-Long Beach Auction #81

Israel. Sigmund Freud, State Gold Medal, 1999. 17 grams. 585 fine. 30 mm. Reverse features Michaelangeo's statue of Moses. Choice Proof-Like Brilliant Uncirculated. Estimated Value $325 - 350

Israel. Prime Ministers of Israel, Lot of 6 State Gold Medals, 2000. Each is 10.4 grams (Total 62.4 grams). 750 fine. 24 mm. Portrait medals of David Ben-Gurion, Levi Eshkol, Moshe Sharett, Golda Meir, Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Rabin. The common reverse design features a flag and menorah-emblem of the State of Israel. In custom wood box. Proof-Like Brilliant Uncirculated. Estimated Value $1,500 - 1,700

Israel. Eli Cohen, State Gold Medal, 2000. 30 grams. 917 fine. 35 mm. Eliahu ben Shaoul Cohen, worked as a Mossad agent in Damascus, Syria under the alias of Kamal Amin Ta'abet from 1962 until his exposure and execution on May 18, 1965. Choice Proof-Like Brilliant Uncirculated. Estimated Value $900 - 1,000

Israel. Jonathan Netanyahu (Operation Jonathan), State Gold Medal, 2001. 85 grams. 916.6 fine. 50 mm. Maximum mintage 90 pieces. For the 25th anniversary tribute to the leader of the dramatic rescue at the Entebbe Airport. All of those held were rescued, and the only casualty was Lt. Col. Jonathan Netanyahu. Fighter planes landing at the airport on the reverse. In original wood case. Choice Proof-Like Brilliant Uncirculated....

Israel. 9-11 Forever Remembered, State Gold Medal, 2001. 30.8 grams. 750 fine. 38 mm. Skyline of lower Manhattan is featured, with the Twin Towers, before the terrorist attack, along with inscription "United in Democracy." The torch held by the Statue of Liberty is depicted, with the legend "Peace and freedom will prevail." Proof-Like Brilliant Uncirculated. Estimated Value $750 - 800

Israel. Teddy Kolleck, State Gold Medal, 2002. 35.4 grams. 917 fine. 38 mm. Rare, maximum authorized mintage of 180. Issued to celebrate the 90th birthday of this long-time Mayor of Jerusalem and important Israeli leader. Reverse has Lion of Judah surrounded by "Lover and builder of Jerusalem." Proof-Like Brilliant Uncirculated. Estimated Value $1,100 - 1,200

Israel. Hercules, Aircraft that Made History, State Gold Medal, 2002. 17 grams. 585 fine. 30.5 mm. Design of the aircraft "Hercules." Proof-Like Brilliant Uncirculated. Estimated Value $325 - 350

Israel. Astronaut Ilan Ramon, State Gold Medal, 2003. 85 grams. 916.6 fine. 50 mm. Tribute to the Israeli Colonel who died along with six American astronauts in a space shuttle accident Reverse pictures the shuttle, with the Biblical quote "They were swifter than eagles (2 Samuel 1:23)." Choice Proof-Like Brilliant Uncirculated. Estimated Value $2,500 - 2,700

Israel. Sheikh Amin Tarif, State Gold Medal, 2003. 17 grams. 585 fine. 30.5 mm. Amin Tarif was the religious leader of the Druze in Israel from 1928 till his death in 1993. Proof-Like Brilliant Uncirculated. Estimated Value $325 - 350

Israel. Maimonides, State Gold Medal, 2004. 17 grams. 585 fine. 30.5 mm. Issued 800 years after the death of Maimonides (Rambam), one of the greatest Jewish scholars from Talmudic times. Proof-Like Brilliant Uncirculated. Estimated Value $325 - 350

Israel. Rashi, State Gold Medal, 2004. 17 grams. 585 fine. 30.5 mm. Issued 900 years after the birth of Rashi, one of the greatest Jewish scholars from Talmudic times. Proof-Like Brilliant Uncirculated. Estimated Value $325 - 350

Israel. Rabbi Israel Abihssira, State Gold Medal with Color, 2005. 41.8 grams. 750 fine. 36 x 45 mm (oval). Honors the Baba Sali (1890-1984), a Moroccan-born rabbi and kabbalist, who made Aliyah to Israel along with most of the Moroccan Jewish community. His tomb (pictured on the reverse of the medal) in Netivot has become a popular pilgrimage site in Israel. Proof-Like Brilliant Uncirculated. Estimated Value $1,050 - 1,150