1949 Israeli 25-mils

[villa66]

This JE5709 (CE1949) 25-mils piece, from what was then the new State of Israel, was struck in aluminum and is 30mm in diameter. This particular piece weighs 3.34g and is one of the 650,000 of this date coined (with some 42,650 first-year pieces being produced with the date 1948.)

The first coinage design of the newly-minted Israeli State, and denominated in the sub-unit of the Palestinian pound, these coins—which made their first appearance in circulation 6 April 1949—were very quickly superseded by the new lira and its 100 prutot.

As with much of what the early Israeli State had to accomplish, and with so much rush, these 1948-49 aluminum 25-mils pieces were…well…improvised. Some of these coins were produced in Jerusalem, or so I have read, but then I’ve also read that they were minted in a Tel Aviv suburb on an old Bridgeport press previously used to make spoons.

It makes me wonder where the aluminum came from.

v.

[Afrasi]

I share Your question about the aluminium supply, but I have no answer. Even these coins being only a short time in circulation I can add a heavily used piece showing the year 1948.

[villa66]

I'm green with envy--as the first of the first, the '48 is way up there on my wish list.

Could this possibly be--finally--a coin that used recycled aircraft metal? But I hasten to add that I have never heard even a whisper of it, and this is just me talking. But does anyone here know the actual source of the metal used for these Israeli 25-mils pieces?

v.