Twelve Tribes of Israel

The medal's obverse shows Reuben as a shepherd with flock of sheep, carrying a bundle of plants.  At top left, REUBEN; signed in exergue, © E. WEISTROP - 1970

The reverse bears Star of David, symbols and names from all twelve medals. In center, THE / TWELVE / TRIBES OF / ISRAEL

Reuben was Jacob's first born and his name stands first in the list of the families of the tribes. Although part of the plot against his brother Joseph, it is Reuben who persuades the others not to kill Joseph and tries to rescue him.  The following quote accompanies this medal in the collector's box:

"... but by reason of thy sin, the birthright is conferred upon Joseph. ...may thy descendants be heroes in the Torah and heroes in the war."

This is the first medal in Elizabeth Weistrop's Twelve Tribes of Israel series. The circular medal measures 43mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.

References:   MACo 1969-100-004, TToI 1

The medal's obverse bears bare-chested Simeon, facing, sun to his left, building and palm trees to his right.At upper left, SIMEON; signed in exergue, © 1970 - E. WEISTROP

The reverse bears Star of David, symbols and names from all twelve medals. In center, THE / TWELVE / TRIBES OF / ISRAEL

Simeon, Jacob's second son, along with his brother Levi, slew the prince of Shechem and destroyed the city in revenge for their sister Dinah's rape or seduction (apparently sources and interpretations differ). They sold their brother Joseph into slavery. As the notes in the collectors edition box quote:

"The descenants of Simeon will many of them be poor men who will wander from tribe to tribe and beg for bread."

This is the second medal in Elizabeth Weistrop's Twelve Tribes of Israel series. The circular medal measures 43mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.

References:   MACo 1969-100-010, TToI 2

The medal's obverse bears figure of Levi, facing, holding the Torah, fully lit menorah to his left, Aron Kodesh to his right. At upper left, LEVI

The reverse bears Star of David, symbols and names from all twelve medals. In center, THE / TWELVE / TRIBES OF / ISRAEL

Levi was Jacob's third-born and joined his brother Simeon in the destruction of the city of Shechem. The following quote accompanies this medal in the collector's box:

"Simeon and Levi are a pair; their weapons are tools of lawlessness... I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel."

The tribe of Levi became the scholars that expounded the Torah and rendered decisions through its teachings.

This is the third medal in Elizabeth Weistrop's Twelve Tribes of Israel series. The circular medal measures 43mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.

References:   MACo 1969-100-001, TToI 3

The medal's obverse bears loin cloth-wearing Judah, facing, holding a lion by its mane; sun to lower left. At upper left, JUDAH; signed in exergue.

The reverse bears Star of David, symbols and names from all twelve medals. In center, THE / TWELVE / TRIBES OF / ISRAEL

Judah, Jacob's fourth-born son, saved his brother Joseph from death and became a symbol of bravery and a leader of men. While he had plotted with his other brothers against Joseph, he secretly devised the plan to release him from the bottom of a well in which he wanted Joseph placed, rather than having him killed. Quoted from the collectors box:

"You, O Judah, your brothers shall praise."

Jacob compared Judah's bravery to that of a lion and said:

"The scepter shall not depart from Judah... tribute shall come to him and the homage of people be his."

This is the fourth medal in Elizabeth Weistrop's Twelve Tribes of Israel series. The circular medal measures 43mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.

References:   MACo 1969-100-003, TToI 4

The medal's obverse bears Dan, facing right, leaning on his staff, kitten behind him; at right, scene with boy falling of shying horse scared by snake; moon and stars in baclground. At top left, DAN; signed and dated in exergue, © 1970 - E. WEISTROP

The reverse bears Star of David, symbols and names from all twelve medals. In center, THE / TWELVE / TRIBES OF / ISRAEL

Dan was Jacob's fifth son, the first he had with Bilah. In the apocryphal Testaments of the Patriarchs, Dan is portrayed as having hated Joseph, and having been the one that invented the idea of deceiving Jacob by the smearing of Joseph's coat with the blood of a kid.

Jacob prophesied that Dan would govern his people as one of the tribes of Israel. The quote runs:

"Dan shall be a serpent by the road... that bites the horses' heels so that his rider is thrown backward."

This is the fifth medal in Elizabeth Weistrop's Twelve Tribes of Israel series. The circular medal measures 43mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.

References:   MACo 1969-100-012, TToI 5

The medal's obverse bears running Naphtali, facing left, a deer jumping at his heels; sun at left.  At top left, NAPHTALI; signed and dated in exergue, © E. WEISTROP 1970

The reverse bears Star of David, symbols and names from all twelve medals. In center, THE / TWELVE / TRIBES OF / ISRAEL

Naphtali was Jacob's sixth son, the second he had with Bilah. It was Jacob's blessing that in Naphtali's land all fruits would ripen quickly and they would be brought as presents to kings and gain royal favor. Naphtali was swift as a deer to do the will of God and was a messenger for his father and the tribes. As the quote runs:

"Lo, here cometh Naphtali, the lovable, who proclaimeth peace."

This is the sixth medal in Elizabeth Weistrop's Twelve Tribes of Israel series. The circular medal measures 43mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.

References:   MACo 1969-100-007, TToI 6

The medal's obverse bears figure of Gad, holding spear and shield in one hand, horse's bridle in other; rows of tents running up slope to his right; sun at left. At left top, GAD; signed and dated in exergue, © 1970 - E. WEISTROP

The reverse bears Star of David, symbols and names from all twelve medals. In center, THE / TWELVE / TRIBES OF / ISRAEL

Gad was Jacob's seventh son, the first he had with Zilpah. Unlike his other brothers, Joseph didn't present Gad to the Pharaoh, since Joseph didn't want Gad to become one of Pharaoh's guards, an appointment that would have been likely had the Pharaoh realised that Gad had great strength. He personified the Israelite fighter:

"Men of might and men of war fit for battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions..."

This is the seventh medal in Elizabeth Weistrop's Twelve Tribes of Israel series. The circular medal measures 43mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.

References:   MACo 1969-100-005, TToI 7

The medal's obverse bears figure of Asher, facing right, picking fruit from a tree into basket at his feet; trees on hilly slope to his right, sun to his left. At top left, ASHER; signed and dated in exergue, © E. WEISTROP 1970

The reverse bears Star of David, symbols and names from all twelve medals. In center, THE / TWELVE / TRIBES OF / ISRAEL

Asher was Jacob's eighth son, his second son with Zilpah. Asher's blessing was the beauty of his women, who would be sought in marriage by kings and high priests. Jacob's blessing also included:

"Asher's bread shall be rich and he shall yield royal dainties."

This is the eighth medal in Elizabeth Weistrop's Twelve Tribes of Israel series. The circular medal measures 43mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.

References:   MACo 1969-100-006, TToI 8

The medal's obverse bears figure of Issachar carrying a bowl full of fruit, a donkey laden with sacks nibbling on a tree shoot in background to his right; sun to his left. At top, ISSACHAR; signed in exergue, © 1970 - E. WEISTROP

The reverse bears Star of David, symbols and names from all twelve medals. In center, THE / TWELVE / TRIBES OF / ISRAEL

Issachar was the ninth son of Jacob, the fifth son he had with Leah. Said Jacob:

"Issachar will take upon himself the burden and the study of the Torah and all the other tribes will come to him and ask him to decide their doubts on legal questions."

Jacob also gave him the blessing that the fruits of his land would be exceedingly large.

This is the ninth medal in Elizabeth Weistrop's Twelve Tribes of Israel series. The circular medal measures 43mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.

References:   MACo 1969-100-009, TToI 9

The medal's obverse bears Zebulun on sea shore, dolphins and trading ship behind him. At top left, ZEBULUN; signed in exergue, © 1970 - E. WEISTROP

The reverse bears Star of David, symbols and names from all twelve medals. In center, THE / TWELVE / TRIBES OF / ISRAEL

Zebulun was Jacob's tenth son, the sxith Jacob had with Leah. He decided to devote himself to business and support his brother Issachar with the profits of his trade. His blessing was that he would conquer the sea coast as far as Sidon. The quote states:

"Zubulun shall dwell by the seashore; He shall be a haven for ships..."

This is the tenth medal in Elizabeth Weistrop's Twelve Tribes of Israel series. The circular medal measures 43mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintages are reported.

References:   MACo 1969-100-008, TToI 10