1949 Israel Silver 500 Pruta Pattern BU

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In 1949, during the mid-century era, a significant numismatic milestone occurred with the creation of the 500 Pruta silver pattern. This coin stands out as one of the initial numismatic issues struck for the State of Israel. Minted in Birmingham by Heaton and Sons, this issue had a limited production of just 33,812 pieces, making it a particularly compelling object of study for those interested in early statehood coinage. The obverse of this silver issue features a detailed branch bearing three pomegranates. Above this central image, the name of the issuing nation, Israel, is inscribed in Hebrew, while the Arabic translation of the country's name appears below. This bilingual presentation highlights the cultural and linguistic landscape of the region during this pivotal period of the late 1940s. On the reverse side, the design focuses on a decorative wreath that encloses both the denomination and the date, rendered in Hebrew characters. Struck with a silver purity of 0.500, which equates to 0.4019 troy ounces of precious metal, this specific specimen is preserved in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, offering an exceptionally clear look at the artistry of a young nation's first currency experiments.