Israel (1960) agora

Stack's Bowers February 2023 Collector's Choice sale, lot 73851

This specimen was lot 73851 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2023), where it sold for $480. The catalog description^[1] noted, "ISRAEL. Agora, JE 5720 (1960). Kings Norton Mint. PCGS AU-50. Large Date Variety. A VERY RARE variety, this quite pleasant specimen displays strong retained details, with limited instances of handling or circulation across the devices. A wholesome and quite exciting specimen." Rapid inflation destroyed the value of the 1949 series and the coinage was reformed in 1960 to 100 agorot = one lira. This type was minted in large numbers 1960-80. Large and small date varieties exist for 1960.

Recorded mintage: 300 large date plus 12,768,000 small date.

Specification: 1.03 g, aluminum, 20 diameter.

Catalog reference: KM-24.1.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, February 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the David Sterling Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.

Link to:

• 1959 5 lirot, 11th anniversary of independence, return of the exiles
• 1960 5 lirot, Theodore Herzl, silver
• Israel 1960 20 lirot, Theodore Herzl, gold
• JE5721 (1961) agora
• Coins and currency dated 1960