Closed Auction

lot # 221 - Medals: Prizes & Awards

Tuesday Apr 09, 2019 20:00 Asia/Jerusalem

Italy (Israel): "Judaea Restituta" / "And the Sons Have Returned to their Home" medal, 1946; by Jewish-Italian medallist Arrigo Minerbi; struck in silver by Stefano Johnson of Milano; size (medal): 35mm; weight: 29g. Obverse: sailboat with Hebrew legend "Ve Shavu Banim LeGvulam" (Yirmiyahu Ch.31 v.16) above & dates 5705-5706 (1945-1946) in exergue; Minerbi's initials, left + "800" silver, Johnson's on right edge. Reverse: Latin legend "Judea Restituta" (a play on Roman "Judea Capta" coins of 70+ AD) with arch of Titus & gate of Jerusalem's Old City & dates as on obverse in Roman numerals. Commissioned by Yehuda Arazi, Italy commander of "Mossad le Aliya Bet" (secret department of illegal emigration to Palestine) as token of gratitude to local civilians & officials who assisted him in enabling Jews to escape to Palestine, specifically following the "La Spezia affair" (April 1946) in which 2 illegal emigrant ships were stopped by the British, 1000+ Jews revolted, staged a hunger strike & occupied the port - and the public outcry caused the British to release the boats to Palestine. Awarded starting Passover eve, 1946; we estimate that 100-200 were issued. Rare; considered to be Israel's first official medal even as a pre-State issue.
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This lot is being offered in a buy or bid sale format, whose initial buyout price is: $999. This price will rise by about 5-10% for every new bid received once the bid level passes the midway mark between the starting bid price and the initial buyout price. In such cases please check the latest buyout price on our homesite or contact us.
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Product Tags: Mandatory Palestinian, Italian Exonumia, Medals, Medallions & Tokens, Prize & Award Medals and Judaic Tokens & Medals from Palestine Mandate, Italy and from Holocaust, 1939-48 Jewish Insurgency in Palestine, 1940s, Great Revolt / First Jewish-Roman War, 20th Century, 1945-1949 Postwar era which are Objects with Biblical or Jewish Religious references or Hebrew Dates, Hebrew on/in non-Israeli object, Object Related Specifically to a Personality or Key Event,

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