Yitzhak Rabin (1922-1995), 2011/5772
3rd in the "Israel Nobel Prize Laureates" Coin Series.
Born in Jerusalem, Yitzhak Rabin completed his studies in Agriculture and wanted to become an Irrigation Engineer. Instead, he embarked on what was to become a military career, culminating in his appointment as Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Force in 1964.
Rabin married Leah Schlossberg and they had a daughter, Dalia, and son, Yuval.
At the end of 1967, after the Six Day War, Rabin retired from the military and was appointed Israel's Ambassador to the United States.
In 1973, prior to the Yom Kippur War, Yitzhak Rabin returned to Israel and entered politics, becoming the 5th Prime Minister in 1974.
In 1994, Rabin was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, together with Shimon Peres then Israel's Foreign Minister, and Yasser Arafat Chairman of the PLO, for efforts to create peace in the Middle East.
On November 4, 1995, Yitzhak Rabin was tragically assassinated in Tel Aviv, at the conclusion of a peace rally. The nation has remained in shock and mourns his tragic and untimely death until today. Yitzhak Rabin was laid to rest on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem and leaders from all over the world attended his State funeral. Perhaps most memorable of them was then U.S. President Clinton, who ended his moving eulogy with the words in Hebrew, “Shalom haver!” (Goodbye Friend)!
The coin bears a portrait of Yitzhak Rabin, based on photographs taken in the period preceding the Nobel Peace Prize award.
Excerpts from Rabin's Speech at the Nobel Prize Ceremony:
"Just as no two fingerprints are identical, so no two people are alike, and every country has its own law and culture, traditions and leaders. But there is one universal message…the message which the Jewish people has borne for thousands of years, a message found in the Book of Books …'take good heed of yourselves'…the message of the Sanctity of Life …There is only one radical means of sanctifying human lives. Not armored plating, or tanks, or planes, or concrete fortifications.
The one radical solution is peace. |
Obverse: |
| Face Value, Israel State Emblem, "Israel" in English, Hebrew and Arabic, the Mint Year 2011 and 5772 in Hebrew characters and an olive branch, symbolizing the peace to which the achievement of which Rabin dedicated his whole life. Below the face value, the mint mark: Hebrew letter "mem" on the Proof Coins and a Star of David on the Prooflike Coin. Around the right-hand border, "Yitzhak Rabin – Nobel Peace Prize 1994" in Arabic. |
Reverse: |
| Portrait of Yitzhak Rabin based on a photograph taken in the years preceding the Nobel Peace Prize award. Around the border " Yitzhak Rabin – Nobel Peace Prize 1994" in English and Hebrew. |
Edge: |
Prooflike coin: Smooth.
Silver and Gold Proof coins: Milled. |
Mint Marks: |
Prooflike coin – Star of David.
Silver and Gold Proof coins – Hebrew letter "mem" below the face value. |
Designer: |
| Aharon Shevo. |
Engraving: |
Mint: |
| Tidhar Dagan. |
Utrecht. |
|
|
