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Ya'akov Meshorer

Ya'akov Meshorer was an Israeli numismatist and archaeologist who served as Chief Curator for archaeology at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

1935 to 2004Study of ancient Jewish coinsIsrael Museum Numismatic DivisionDesign of modern Israeli coins

Born: 14 August 1935, Jerusalem
Died: 23 June 2004, Jerusalem
Occupation: classical archaeologist, university teacher, numismatist, archaeologist
Education: Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Ya'akov Meshorer was born in 1935 in Jerusalem

Meshorer was born in Jerusalem in 1935 to a family with roots in the Mani family of Hebron. He had an identical twin brother, Asher. As boys they found ancient coins in the fields near their home, and in 1949 they gave their finds to the Israel Department of Antiquities.

He studied at the Gymnasia Rehavia. After his army service he joined Kibbutz Hazerim, where he married Adaya Weiss and set up a museum. In 1960 he moved to Jerusalem and studied at the Hebrew University, earning a BA, an MA, and in 1971 a PhD on Nabataean coins.

In 1969 he founded the Numismatic Division of the Israel Museum and headed it until 1993. He was Chief Curator for Archaeology in 1975 to 1982 and 1990 to 1996, and became Professor of Numismatics at the Hebrew University in 1983. He helped shape the design of modern Israeli coins, many based on ancient Jewish coinage.

He published 19 books and more than 100 articles. He curated an exhibition of Moshe Dayan's collection, which drew criticism because some objects had been acquired illegally. He retired from the museum in 2000 and died in Jerusalem in 2004 after an illness with cancer.

Milestones in Ya'akov Meshorer's life

1935
Born in Jerusalem.
1949
Gave ancient coins he found to the Department of Antiquities.
1954
Joined the Israel Defense Forces.
1967
Was slightly wounded in the Six-Day War.
1969
Founded the Numismatic Division of the Israel Museum.
1971
Received his PhD from the Hebrew University.
1983
Became Professor of Numismatics at the Hebrew University.
2001
Received the Huntington Medal of the American Numismatic Society.
2004
Died in Jerusalem.

Ya'akov Meshorer served in the military

He served in the IDF from 1954 to 1956 in the Nahal. As a reservist in the Jerusalem Reconnaissance Company he was slightly wounded in the 1967 Six-Day War, and he later served as an officer in the UN liaison unit.