Newspaper Page Text
Friday, March 25, 1966
THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE
Pmge Fifteen
Israel i Coi ns Hi t U.S. Jack pot of Gold
By JEAN R. HERSCHAFT
(A Seven Arts Feature)
In a declining U. S. Coin mar
ket, the State of Israel continues
to hit the literal jack-pot of gold
with its export of Commemora
tive Coins, numismatics will tell
you.
In 1964, the sales here soared
past the half-million dollar mark
alone. (It far outran the total
global sales of ’63 when Israeli
Commemorative Coins registered
a mere $120,000!) This amazing
record was achieved during the
first year that the Jewish State
opened its first and only branch
office anywhere, here in New
York City, and started to promote
Commemorative Coins and med
als.
But while the Israeli govern
ment is gratified at its monetary
success, it views this primarily
as a successful massive public re
lations venture which it intended
It to be all along, according to the
director of its New York Office
—former Scotsman—now Israeli
citizen Robert Weber.
1965 found the demand for the
coins greater than the supply, he
said.
ing its own suite of offices at
11 Keren Hayesod Street in Jer
usalem and its N. Y. office and
showroom suite at 850 Third
Ave.
Officially its: Israel Govern
ment Coins and Medals Corpora
tion, Ltd. The length of its name
hasn’t dimmed the glitter its
products radiate.
“We prefer to sell to the grass
roots rather than to dealers,”
Weber explained, “because it is
with us primarily a public rela
tions venture: introducing and
acquainting collectors with Israel,
its past and its present.”
Dealers are businessmen and
while they may favor Israel’s
coins today, tomorrow their com
mercial heart may belong to some
Arab State daddy who enters the
market, Weber speculated sound
ly.
Have Arab eyes been survey
ing the Coin Market since Israel’s
successful sail in these new
waters?
After long, deliberate pause
and with a certain degree of re
luctance to discuss interesting
developments in this sphere con
cerning Israel’s foes, he said dip
lomatically, “Recent activity in
face value as legal tender, medal*
are issued several times a year.
Medals cost less to the collector
as they have no face value as
legal tender. In all other ways
they are drawn with the same
impeccable taste for beauty,
quality and Jewish history that
mark the coins.
Medals are increasing steadily
in popularity, Weber reports.
Their collectors are those who
view them as a meaningful hob
by with Biblical, historical ident
ification. A coin collector, Weber
differentiated, “is a man with
mixed feelings ... he collects for
their intrinsic beauty while view
ing their acquisition as an in
vestment.”
Coin or medal—each is Israel’s
Ambassador on the scene . '. . hit
ting the dollar jackpot but a
tantalizing sideline.
S«9« Roswell Rd.. N.W
CE. S-4M1
mm
ACTION DANCING
The Latest Craze
The DEL RAYS
NO ADMISSION • NO MINIMUM • NO COVER • REDUCED PRICES
2581 PIEDMONT RD., N.E. • 231-3I7S » AMPLE FREE PARKING
W. £,UnJ J CorMaf Uhl
to visit Atlanta's OLDEST Genuine
Chinese & American Restaurant
DWG-1*0
ENGLISH TRANSLATION: “The Very Best!’’
26L CAIN ST., N.E. JA. 2-6706
Half Block East of Henry Grady Hotel
A commemorative coin issued
in ’64 at a $9 rate, is now a col
lector’s item tabbing a cool $75
—on the coin market!
To what did Mr. Weber attri
bute the booming popularity of
the Israeli issue?
“It’s a hobby with a tangible
identification: a bond with the
Holy Land, a link with Israel’s
past and present,” he explained.
About half of its 20,000 sub
scribers are non-Jews, judging
by their names. Many names pre
fixed with “Father” and “Rev.”
as well, on the enrollment cards
give credence that the coins are a
link to the land of the Bible for
all peoples.
Subscriptions run along Book
Club and Record Club lines fa
miliar to all. Members receive
discounts ranging from 5% -10%
on market price. Minimal purch
ases total approximately $50 for
a year's commemorative coins and
medals. Subscribers are always
guaranteed complete issues.
While ties to the Holy Land at
tract membership, the intrinsic
image of the coin proves irresis-
table.
The coins and medals are beau
tifully and dramatically executed.
Their themes dwell on history,
past- and present, with one side
of the coin depicting modern Is
rael and the other side (obverse)
Israel of tin ancient era.
For each coin and medal to be
struck, a separate contest among
all artists and craftsman inter
ested is held in Israel with a
number of qualified judges de
termining the winning sketch to
be circulated.
Coins have been struck by the
Bank of Israel on Israel’s Anni
versary’ as well as on some holi
days, as Hanukah.
The initial commemorative coin
debuted in 1958.
Its global success, financially
and otherwise, may be measured
in part by its graduation from a
small file of assorted business in
a cubicle of space to an inde
pendent but government owned
private corporation now oceupy-
Coins in Arab Countries give
evidence that Arabs are not un
aware of the public relations as
pect of Coins.”
In addition to coins which have
Lovely Dress Fabric*
All Pattern* — Trtm
Complete Drapery Depi
• Authentic Cantonese Chinese Food
• Delicious American Food
Daily 11 A M. to 11 P.M.—Sundays 12 NOON to 11 P.M.
Room Where Clients Can Wait In Comfort For Maximum Private Service
Doug Rithmire’s
Automatic
Transmission
Service
LONDON HOUSE
“Ilmiirrs to Gentlemen”
PROFESSIONAL
THOROUGH
•
REASONABLE
707 Marietta St., N.W.
524-4900
SPECIALIZING IN RAZOR CUTTING AND HAIR STYLING
1905 Peachtree Rd., N.E.
By Appointment 351-6800