Antique galley resembling the image on a coin of the era Herod Archelaus with the emblem of the State of Israel above (menorah flanked by olive branches); "Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic.

Herod Archelaus (23 BC – c. 18 AD) was ethnarch (a king who ruled over one-half of the territorial dominion of his father) of Samaria, Judea, and Idumea (biblical Edom), including the cities Caesarea and Jaffa, for a period of nine years (circa 4 BC to 6 AD), and appointed by Roman Emperor Augustus when Judaea province was formed under direct Roman rule, at the time of the Census of Quirinius. He was the son of Herod the Great and Malthace the Samaritan, and was the brother of Herod Antipas, and the half-brother of Herod Philip I. Archelaus (a name meaning "leading the people") came to power after the death of his father Herod the Great in 4 BC.

The Emblem of the State of Israel shows a menorah surrounded by an olive branch on each side, and the writing "ישראל" (Hebrew for Israel) below it. The menorah is described in the Bible as the seven-lamp (six branches) ancient Hebrew lampstand made of pure gold and used in the portable sanctuary set up by Moses in the wilderness and 300 years later in the Temple in Jerusalem. Fresh olive oil of the purest quality was burned daily to light its lamps. The menorah has been a symbol of Judaism since ancient times and is the emblem on the coat of arms of the modern state of Israel.

The denomination "10 Sheqalim" in Hebrew and English between two stars; the date in Hebrew.

All dates on Israeli coins are given in the Hebrew calendar and are written in Hebrew letters. Hebrew dating formed from a combination of the 22 consonant letters of the Hebrew alphabet and read from right to left.