Watch List notes:

Netherlands: Rabbi Elazar Ben Shmuel 'Shmelka' medal, 1735, STRUCK in copper, by 'Joel son of Rabbi Lippman Levi'; size: 46.5mm; weight: 25.8g; in F (JM-61-64 & 130; JMM-34/35; GJPM-12 & 15). Obverse bears Rabbi's image with Hebrew legend "Our teacher, the Rabbi Elazar, son of our teacher the Rabbi Shmuel, President of the Rabbinical Seminary of the Holy Congregation in Brod [Brody]" - this highly unusual as it contradicts Ashkenazi (European Jewish) tradition (although in the 19th Century the custom of portraying Rabbis became more prevalent). On reverse, "Received here on Wednesday 27 Elul 495 [1735]", with excerpt from "Pirkei Avot" below, and "Pray for the good of the government" underneath; below bisecting line there are ten quotations from Psalm 119; signed at bottom, "By the hand of Joel, the son of the honorable Lippman Levy, may he be protected by his Rock and Redeemer". Commemorates Rabbi Elazar's arrival in Amsterdam to be the community's [Chief] Rabbi: "The first medal known in all history unequivocally to be done by a Jewish medalist" - JM-64. Extremely rare struck, most probably pre-dating cast examples: the only other such example seen may be that on the cover of Polak's book on Jewish medals in the Netherlands. The Rabbi referenced is known as Rabbi Elazar Rokeach of Amsterdam (Eleazar ben Shmuel, c. 1665 - 1742), author of "Maaseh Rokeach" (on the Chumash); his grandson was Rabbi Elazar Rokeach (II), father of Rabbi Sholom Rokeach of Belz (1781 - 1855) - the first 'Belzer Rebbe' of the Belz Hassidic dynasty. "Shmelka/Shmelke" is a diminutive of Shmuel. In his final years Rabbi Elazar emigrated to Eretz Israel to serve as a Rabbi in Tzfat: Hassidic Admorim, and foremost among them the Baal Shem Tov, relate that Rabbi Elazar came in the wake of Rabbi Nachman of Horodenka, grandfather of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov and a student of the 'Besht', and that a meeting of the two in the Holyland would have brought the Mashiach (Messiah) and the 'Geula' (Redemption) - but the latter departed Eretz Israel before the former could see him, and he, Rabbi Elazar died before they could meet there again.