Medal Commemorating the 9th Anniversary of the Establishment of the State of Israel issued in conjunction with the Testimonial Dinner honoring Maxwell Abbell, Chicago, 1957

1957

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From the Shekel July - August 1996.  Vol 29, No. 4.

A Medal for the Ninth Anniversary of the State of Israel and Maxwell Abbell
by Peter S. Horvitz

The tenth anniversary of the birth of the State of Israel was the first anniversary commemorated by a special coin. This event was also marked with a silver medal and gold medal. Every anniversary since has also been numismatically commemorated, at the very least by a silver commemorative coin.

But some anniversaries have also seen additional medals, including one in platinum, gold coins, and special mint sets. But anniversaries before the tenth seem sparsely commemorated. Certainly there were no official issues. Therefore the present medal is especially interesting.

It was issued, apparently as a souvenir, for a testimonial dinner given, on the ninth anniversary, in honor of Maxwell Abbell, Chicago real estate mogul and outstanding financial contributor to the Zionist cause.

The medal measures 40 millimeters and is cast in white metal, which was subsequently bronze plated. The obverse shows an almost right profile portrait of David Ben-Gurion, which is just turned slightly forward. The portrait is in very high relief. Directly under the head is DAVID BEN-GURION. Above is 9TH ANNIVERSARY and around the bottom appears OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL.

On the reverse appears the sword and olive branch symbol of the Israel Army. Above this are the words TESTIMONIAL DINNER and below HONORING MAXWELL ABBELL CHICAGO MAY 12, 1957. At the very bottom appears BOGOFF in small, infused letters. I assumed this last name is that of the artist or manufacturer.

Maxwell Abbell was a prominent Chicago lawyer, accountant, and real estate executive. He was also the owner of the Abbell Hotel chain, as well as a number of office building through the United State. Abbell had been born in Slonim, Poland in 1902 and he came to this country, with his parents, in 1905. He had a brother and two sisters. The Abbell family settled in Chelsea, Massachusetts. He was an excellent student and he graduated magna cum laude from Harvard, in 1922. He held graduate-level degrees from a number of other universities.

in 1932 Abbell moved to Chicago. Up until 1937, Abbell worked for Jewish welfare agencies. In that year he opened an accounting firm. In 1938, he was admitted to the Illinois bar. In 1941, Abbell made his first venture into the real estate business that would make his fortune. At a luncheon, he was told about an apartment house that was for sale. The three men at the luncheon, who had told him about the deal, felt that asking price was too high. Abbell disagreed. Abbell borrowed against his insurance and some money from a friend...