Palestine (Russia?): Rishon LeZion settlement/Theodore Herzl commemorative token, circa. 1898; bronze; not maker-marked; size: 26mm x 27mm; weight: 6.55g. Obverse: view of Rishon LeZion settlement with legend (Yeshayahu, ch. 41) "The first to Zion ['Rishon LeZion'] here they are, and to Jerusalem a portent I shall give" & "Colonia Rishon LeZion" at base; Hebrew date "1882" in exergue. A rare (3rd) variant of these Rishon LeZion tallions: appears to commemorate Herzl's visit there on 26 Oct. 1898, whose arrival was met with excitement and pride, per winery director David Yudilovich's diary: "And here approached me a fellow countryman... and presents: Dr. Herzl. It was as if I froze, I was seized by trembling and fear. A tremor passed through my body. I didn't know what to do with myself. The whole group entered the large hall. And I stand and am astonished: Herzl is in Eretz Israel?! Herzl is here?! Herzl is here?! And in the official's [of Rothschild] house?!..." Herzl stayed overnight, visiting the winery, the house of Rothschild's official, and being entertained by Rishon LeZion's symphony orchestra. Spelling mistakes in the text suggest foreign manufacture. This piece is missing the tallion but bears better details than another which sold for $250 in Auction 6. Rare.


Product Tags: Holylandish, Russian Exonumia, Medals, Medallions & Tokens, Zionist Tokens & Medals and Judaic Tokens & Medals from Holyland, Russia and from 1882-1903 1st Aliya, 19th Century which are Objects with Biblical or Jewish Religious references or Hebrew Dates, Hebrew on/in non-Israeli object, Object Related Specifically to a Personality or Key Event,