Gates of Jerusalem - New Gate - 1 Oz - Silver Collector Coin

NEW GATE

Fourth in the series of numismatic coins "Gates of Jerusalem"

The New Gate on the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem was built in 1889 by the Ottoman authorities. Relatively speaking, it is the newest of the 8 main gates in the walls and was built at their highest point.

The new gate provided a more convenient passage between Jerusalem's Old City and the Christian institutions on the other side of the street.

While the other gates in the walls of the Old City have a more impressive appearance with more decorative elements, the New Gate is simpler and consists of a single opening in the wall. The other gates were fortified in the 16th century, when the needs for defence were greater. By the end of the 19th century, security conditions had improved and the Greek Orthodox Church took over the construction of shops, warehouses, stables and dwellings along the street leading to the gate. The area near the gate became a lively traffic and commercial zone.

The new gate was blocked from 1948, when the Jordanians closed it, until 1967, when the Israel Defense Forces reopened it after the Six-Day War.

The obverse of the coin reads "1 oz. fine silver .999", and the year of mintage: New Gate, inscribed in English and Hebrew "New Gate".

Reverse: stylized map of the gates in the Wall around the Old City of Jerusalem, inscription in English and Hebrew "Gates of Jerusalem" in the margin, and "The Holy Land Mint" below.