Israel 1980 "Shalom" 200 Lirot Proof Silver Coin, KM# 104

Description

Israel 1980 "Shalom"
200 Lirot Proof Silver Coin, KM# 104
The Israel Government Coins and Medals Corp. was established in 1958 by Prime Minister Ben Gurion for the purpose of commemorating the historical events and milestones of the State of Israel, as well as its outstanding personalities and achievements in culture, science and art. Until 2008, the Corporation was fully owned by the Government of Israel. During 2008, it was privatized.
Fifteen years after premier Menachem Begin and president Anwar Sadat signed the Egypt-Israel peace treaty under the auspices of U.S. president Jimmy Carter, Israel's Yitzhak Rabin, Jordan's King Hussein and U.S. president Bill Clinton gathered in October 1994 near the adjoining port cities of Eilat and Aqaba to sign the second peace treaty between Israel and one of its Arab neighbors. Prior to Israel- Jordan peace, the relationship between both countries had always been enigmatic. For decades a popular Israeli saying was, that "we don't know which will be the first Arab country to make peace with Israel, but Jordan will be the second." The enigmatic relationship between both nations goes back to 1918, when Emir Feisal, King Hussein's great-grandfather met with Chaim Weismann, resulting in the Feisal-Weizmann agreement of 1919. Later, in early May 1948, days before the outbreak of Israel's war of independence, Golda Meir traveled to Amman to meet King Abdullah, Hussein's grandfather. And during the reign of King Hussein it was common knowledge that the Hashemite monarch met in secret several times with Israeli prime ministers, ministers and other high officials in order to reach peace. After the peace treaty, the relationship between both countries has mostly been positive.
This coin was made at the Swiss Federal Mint at Bern. It commemorates the 32nd anniversary of Independence, and the theme is "Shalom" (peace treaty with Egypt).
This silver proof coin is in a vinyl pouch, which is in an open plastic pouch. The plastic pouch is attached to a black vinyl case with a leather-like finish and a gold state emblem in a circle on the front. It has a tab closure that slips into a belt-like loop. The case is 2-7/16" wide, 3-7/16" high and about 5/8" thick. The coin is round and it has a smooth edge with lettering.
This proof coin has a mem ( מ ) at the bottom center of the obverse side. The coin is made of 0.900 fine silver, and it weighs 26 grams. It is 37mm in diameter.
The obverse side of the coin has 'Israel" in the upper left, and by the border; and the state emblem in the upper right. The value is in Arabic numerals below the text. The issue date, "1980", is right of center by the bottom edge.
The reverse side of the coin has an olive branch in the center. At the bottom center is the word "Peace" in English. Above that is "Peace" in Hebrew.
This is a proof coin. Please see the photos. The silver color of the coin may show as black in the images. The photo images may provide a better indication of the actual color. Because all the images were taken through the plastic pouches, any dirt or distortion is due to the pouches and is not on the coin. The coin has never been removed from the pouch. There is some toning by the upper edge of both sides of the coin, with more showing on the reverse than on the obverse. There does not appear to be any other toning/tarnish or other defects.