A menorah is a holy lamp that became a symbol of a people, a state, and a religion and is a metaphor for the ideal of universal enlightenment. A menorah is a lamp of seven branches that would burn consecrated olive oil and light the Temple. The first mention of the menorah is in Exodus 25: 31-40. It describes how God revealed the design of the menorah to Moses. Exodus 27:21 discussed the use of the menorah.

There was never just one menorah. The holy object was present in temples and is referenced in the Talmud and Bible. The best-known menorah is the one that was made in accordance with the pattern revealed to Moses on the mountain. This menorah was in the Second Temple in Jerusalem on the Temple Mount. It was approximately 5.3 feet tall and was made of gold. We know of this menorah through the writings and oral histories. It was also depicted in the Arch of Titus in Rome. This holy menorah was looted from the Second Temple and placed in the Roman Temple of Peace as a war trophy in 70 AD. This menorah was still in Rome when the area was conquered by the Vandals in 455 AD.

In 165 BC, the Maccabees overthrew their Selucid rulers. The Second Temple had been desecrated by the Selucids and was required to be cleansed and purified before it could again be used. The stores of consecrated olive oil, which was used in the menorah that lit the Temple, had been contaminated. Only one sealed container was left, enough for one day's use for the menorah; however, the menorah continued to burn on this one-day supply for eight days, the time it took to produce more pure consecrated olive oil. Since then the miracle has been celebrated as the festival of Hanukkah, commemorating the miracle by lighting the menorah for eight successive nights. A regular menorah has eight branches, representing the miracle of the lamp. The Hanukkah menorah has nine branches, one for each night of the miracle plus the shamash or "helper" candle that is used to hold the candle that lights the other eight candles.

Menorahs have been featured on coinage since ancient times. Judea coinage from 40 BC circulated featuring a menorah design on some issues. Israel began to issue coins and medals featuring menorahs in the 1950s. Here are just some of the examples of such commemorative and circulation-issue coins:

1958 Lira PCGS MS66 Menorah. Image courtesy of PCGS TrueView. Click image to enlarge.

(1963) ½ L Small Animals, PCGS MS65. Image courtesy of PCGS TrueView. Click image to enlarge.

1962 Lira PCGS PR67 Italian Menorah. Image courtesy of PCGS TrueView. Click image to enlarge.

1963 Lira PCGS PR66, North African Menorah. Image courtesy of PCGS TrueView. Click image to enlarge.

1972 5 Lirot PCGS65CAM, Hanukkah Reeded Edge. Image courtesy of PCGS TrueView. Click image to enlarge.

1973 5 Lirot PCGS MS66, Hanukkah Plain Edge. Image courtesy of PCGS TrueView. Click image to enlarge.

1976 10 Lirot PCGS PR65, U.S. Lamp. Image courtesy of PCGS TrueView. Click image to enlarge.

1979 100 Lirot PCGS PR69DCAM, Egyptain Lamp Reeded Edge. Image courtesy of PCGS TrueView. Click image to enlarge.

1981 Sheqel PCGS PR66CAM, Polish Lamp KM-115.2. Image courtesy of PCGS TrueView. Click image to enlarge.

1982 Sheqel PCGS MS69, Yemen Lamp. Image courtesy of PCGS TrueView. Click image to enlarge.

1983 2 Sheqel PCGS PR69DCAM, Prague Lamp. Image courtesy of PCGS TrueView. Click image to enlarge.

1984 2 Sheqel PCGS PR68DCAM, Theresianstadt Lamp. Image courtesy of PCGS TrueView. Click image to enlarge.

1986 2 New Sheqalim PCGS PR68DCAM, Algerian Lamp. Image courtesy of PCGS TrueView. Click image to enlarge.

1987 2 New Sheqalim PCGS PR69DCAM, English Lamp. Image courtesy of PCGS TrueView. Click image to enlarge.

1988 2 New Sheqalim PCGS PR67DCAM, Tunisian Lamp. Image courtesy of PCGS TrueView. Click image to enlarge.

1989 2 New Sheqalim PCGS PR66DCAM, Persian Lamp. Image courtesy of PCGS TrueView. Click image to enlarge.

1990 2 New Sheqalim PCGS PR67DCAM, Cochin Lamp. Image courtesy of PCGS TrueView. Click image to enlarge.

There are menorah state seals on most commemorative coinage of issue.

The menorah remains a symbol of Israel and the Jewish and Orthodox Christian religions. It has been featured on coins and medals for over 2,000 years and as shown on the coinage of Israel continues to be used in countries around the world.