A NIS 2 silver proof commemorative coin, issued to mark the participation of Israel's Olympic delegation in the 2012 London Olympics, and dedicated to gymnastics, won first place as the "Finest Coin Minted in 2011" in the ninth International Prize Vicenza Numismatica competition, held in Vicenza, Italy.
In a competition held as part of the annual Italian Vicenza Numismatica fair, which focuses on banknotes, coins, and medals collecting, the coin was chosen as the "Finest Coin Minted in 2011". The judges, who met on July 11, 2012, chose the winning coins in three different categories, out of 42 coins presented by 12 mints. The selection was made by a panel of judges consisting of numismatics experts and members of the Numismatics Society, and in various Italian coin collecting societies.
In choosing the coin, the panel of judges noted the elegant synthesis and integration of the performing figure and the ribbon which forms a Star of David, and the harmony between the obverse and reverse sides of the coin.
The organizers of the competition congratulated the Bank of Israel and the coin's designer, Mr. David Harel from Jerusalem, on the win.
This coin is the third coin in a series marking the Israeli delegation's participation in the Olympics. The first was issued to mark the Israeli delegation's participation in the 2004 Athens Olympics and was dedicated to windsurfing; the second coin was issued to commemorate the Israeli delegation's participation in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and was dedicated to judo.
