Introducing the Jonah and the Whale Silver Coin
Fresh from the Israel Mint and designed by Aharon Shevo and Gideon Keich, comes this beautiful Jonah and the Whale silver coin, this coin is legal tender issued by the Bank of Israel.
The coin’s design was inspired by the Scriptural account of prophet Jonah, who was sent to the city of Nineveh to warn the people of that city to repent of their wicked deeds
Jonah tried to avoid his calling from God by seeking passage on a ship going in the opposite direction, however, the ship encountered a furious storm because of his rebellion and he was thrown overboard by the terrified crew.
However Jonah did not drown but found refuge inside the belly of a whale where he remained for 3 days and 3 nights. Eventually Jonah realised the error of his ways and decided to obey God and preach to the city of Nineveh.
The rest of the story can be read in the book of Jonah, found in the Bible. The obverse of the coin has a reference to Jonah Chapter 2 verse 1 which reads:
Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly,And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.
The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God.
When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.
And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
I currently do not own one of these coins but hope to order one online soon.