State Medal - Redemption of the First-Born Son ND

Reverse

The Hebrew verse: "And their redemption when a month old shall you redeem - shall be by your valuation, five silver shekels, the sacred shekels" - Numbers 18:16. The inscription "Pidyon Haben Medal" in English.

Lettering:
ופדויו
מבן חדש תפדה
בערצך צסף חמשת
שקלים בשקל
הקדש
במדבר יח׳טז׳
PIDYON HABEN MEDAL

Engravers: Yitzhak Pugacz, Tidhar Dagan

Edge

The State emblem and the words: "State of Israel" in Hebrew and English. In Hebrew, "Silver 935" and "Silver" in English.

Lettering: SILVER 935 כסף STATE OF ISRAEL מדינת ישראל

Comment

The medal was issued principally to make it possible to redeem the first born son from his sacred obligations, with five silver shekels. The redemption act is also a reminder of the fact that the first born escaped the fate of the Egyptian first born. The first born were intended to minister as priests to the people. However, since the Levites and the priests, descendents of Aaron, were found to be more suitable for sacred service, God commanded us to redeem our first-born sons by purchasing their exemption from this high office. In the response volume "Yechaveh De'ah", Halacha corner, fourth section, by Chief Rabbi Obadyah Joseph, it is stated, "30 draham of pure silver, or its equivalent in value, would be sufficient for the act of redemption. However, according to the custom established in Jerusalem for many past generations, we must give 31 draham pure silver, or its equivalent, which amounts to one hundred grams of pure silver". The weight of a draham is 3.2 gram. Therefore, it follows that as five Pidyon Haben medals contain 102.85 grams of pure silver (each medal weighs 20.57 grams pure silver) the total exceeds somewhat the weight of the sacred shekels mentioned in the Torah.