Israel 1983 "Hanukka -- Menorah from Prague" Two Silver Coins, Proof & BU Set

Description

Israel 1983 "Hanukka -- Menorah from Prague"
Two Silver Coins, Proof & BU Set, KM# 129 (BU) & KM# 131 (Proof)
Plus Bonus 10 Sheqalim Uncirculated Coin
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.
The 1 Sheqel coin was made at the Paris Mint in France. The 2 Sheqalim coin was made at the Swiss Mint in Berne. For KM# 128, 12,777 BU coins were made. For KM# 131, 10,894 proof coins were made. They are in clear plastic capsules, which are placed in indentations in the bottom of a clamshell presentation case. The dark olive color case is 5-3/16" long, 2-3/8" wide and about 13/16" thick. Both of the coins are round. The BU coin has a plain (smooth) edge; and the proof coin has a reeded (or milled) edge.
A bonus coin was provided by the Israel Government Coins and Medals Corporation. It is KM# 134, which was issued in 1984. This table provides significant facts about the coins:
Coin
KM No.
Composition
Fineness
Weight
Diameter
Finish
Obverse/Reverse
1 Sheqel
129
Silver
0.850
14.4 grams
30mm
BU
See description below
2 Sheqalim
131
Silver
0.850
28.8 grams
38.7mm
Proof
See description below
10 Sheqalim
134
Cupro-Nickel
N/A
8.0 grams
25mm
Uncirc.
See description below
Except for the values, both coins in the set have the same obverse and reverse designs. The proof coin has a mem ( מ ) below the state emblem at the bottom of the the obverse. The BU coin has a sixpointed star ( ✡ ) below the state emblem at the bottom of the obverse.
The obverse side of the coins contains a large number for the value in the upper center. Below that is"Sheqel" (or Sheqalim) in both Hebrew and Latin characters. The state emblem is near the bottom center. Around the edge in the upper right and left is "Israel 1983" in both Hebrew and Latin characters.
The reverse side of the coins contains a depiction of the Hanukka Lamp from Prague that occupies the upper two-thirds of the coin. At the bottom center are Hebrew characters.
Bonus coin: The obverse side contains a large "10" in the upper center to indicate the value. Below that are "Ten Sheqalim" in Hebrew characters, and the word "Sheqalim" also in Latin. The reverse side has a depiction of an ancient galley, The state emblem is in the upper left center, and the word "Israel" is at the left side and near the border. This coin does not have a mint mark.
The set of coins are a frosted proof coin and a proof-like, high quality BU coin. The bonus coin is uncirculated, but not part of the set. Please see the photos. The silver color of the coins may show as black in the scanned images. The photo images may provide a better indication of the actual color. Because all the images (of the set of two coins) were taken through the plastic capsules, any dirt or distortion is due to the capsule and is not on the coins. The coins have never been removed from the plastic capsules.
There is some tarnishing on the edge of the 2 sheqalim coin, and it is most noticeable near the border on the obverse side from about the 11:00 o'clock position to about the 7:00 o'clock position (moving clockwise).