Obverse: tower of David, rising above the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, near Jaffa Gate, upper left-hand border, “Jerusalem” inscribed in English, Hebrew, and Arabic, face value 20 New Sheqalim (NIS), mintmark and mint year. Right, the metal weight and fineness, “1 oz. fine gold .9999” in Hebrew and English.
Reverse: the Lion of Megiddo, with its stylized curved tail, is taken from an ancient seal excavated in Megiddo (Armageddon) in the Jordan Valley, dating from the 8th century BCE. The seal belonged to Shema, the servant of Jeroboam II, Israelite King. The lion is also the symbol of the Tribe of Judah and of the eternal capital of Israel, Jerusalem. The same Lion of Megiddo appeared in the Israeli 5 Lira Banknote (1958), 5 Lira Coin (1978), and on the Half Shekel Coin (1980). Above the figure of the lion appears the State of Israel Emblem and below it is the word “Israel '' in English, Hebrew, and Arabic.
About the coin: the Bank of Israel aptly named this Series “Jerusalem of Gold''. The coins in the series are legal tender. Each contains 1 oz. of fine gold.9999 and has a face value of 20 New Sheqalim (NIS). These are the very first Israeli gold bullion coins, priced in accordance with the daily international price of gold.
These bullion coins are equally valuable as collector's items and as financial investments. The Gold Bullion Coins in the “Jerusalem of Gold” depicts a treasured historical site in the eternal city of Jerusalem. Israel issued its first kind of gold coin “Tower of David” in 2010. Minted by Utrecht Royal Dutch Mint (The Netherlands).
