25 Prutot

Minted in Switzerland because Israel's new government had no domestic mint, the 25 Prutot coin helped establish the young state's currency amid the 1949 shortages.

It's composed of 0.720 fine silver, weighing 5.67 grams, with a diameter of 23.5 millimeters. The obverse shows a palm tree and olive branch; the reverse lists the denomination in both Hebrew and Arabic. Production spanned 1949 to 1957, with subtle variations in edge lettering that only pedants notice.

Exact mintage numbers for some years are uncertain, likely misplaced in early administrative chaos. I've handled dozens over the years, and the patina on well-worn examples tells its own story.

Not every rumor holds up; for instance, the idea that these were struck from Mandate-era scrap is plausible but unproven.