Lot #171
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Palestine - Mikweh Israel - 1/4 Piaster 1879 - G-VG - Extremely Rare
Palestine – Mikweh Israel – 1/4 Piaster 1879 – G-VG – Extremely Rare
Brass token about 1/4 Piaster. It is currently estimated that there are 6-8 such items in the world. The item is rare in each of the three rarity parameters, rare in quality, quantity and frequency. This is an item that was an expression of Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel after 2000 years and in fact may be the first means of Jewish payment after thousands of years in the holyland.
It was used by the Holon area until it was confiscated by the Ottoman Empire, very few survived in private hands.
Issued at the Mikve Israel school for the use of students and staff, in some sources 1885 or 1886.
Face: the inscription "Mikweh Israel" and its value.
Back: AIU "[Alliance Israélite Universelle – "All Israel Friends" organization].
Diameter: 27 mm.