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Auction: 13004 - World Banknotes
Lot: 723

Bank of Israel ´Ideal figures´ series, a hand executed essay on board for a 1/2 lira, 1958, serial number 297420, green and white, allegorical male figure at left, background of cultivated fields almost identical to the adopted design with ´female soldier´, signature of Nebenzahl low right
(Pick 29 for similar, Arkin page 81 for similar), this whole series was conceived due to public dissatisfaction with the ´landscape´ issues of 1955. The project was overseen by the archaeologist Yigael Yadin with the idea being to place archaeological sites on the reverses and images of the new State of Israel on the obverse. Arkin writes ´Old versus new´ as the theme behind the proposed new issue of currency. the designers were Gaabriel Shamir, Maxim Shamir and Jacob Zim. The photographer Rudi Wissenstein was commissioned to take photographs of ´modern Israelis´ to best epitomise the new State of Israel. These photographs would then form the template for the new designs.The proofs offered here bear the manuscript signature of one of the designers, Maxim Shamir´ and were purchased many decades ago from the family of Maxim Shamir. Unique and a tangible reminder of the creation of this iconic series.

Sold for
£1,300