The design of the obverse of the coin was chosen through a design competition, in which 15 graphic designers in Israel participated. In selecting the final design, Bank of Israel Governor Prof. Amir Yaron adopted the recommendations of the Public Committee for the Planning of Banknotes, Coins and Commemorative Coins chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Jacob Turkel. The Governor selected the winning design from among the three design proposals that were selected by the Committee.
In accordance with the Bank of Israel Law, 5770-2010, the particulars and design of the coin, as determined by the Governor, were approved by the Bank of Israel’s Supervisory Committee, chaired by Prof. Shuki Shemer, and have now been approved by the government as well.
The coin will be issued into circulation as a special edition of the NIS 5 coin, with an updated design of the obverse and its dedication to medical personnel. The Bank of Israel plans to issue several million coins of the special edition, and they are expected to be distributed to the public through the banking corporations and Israel Post by the end of 2021.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said, “The special coin expresses the gratitude of the citizens of Israel to the medical personnel in Israel. They are at the frontlines of the battle against the coronavirus and have been doing holy work since the beginning of the crisis. From the doctors and nurses, through the staff at the health clinics, to the employees of the Ministry of Health—they have all worked together around the clock to protect the health of Israel’s citizens.
I commend the Bank of Israel on this welcome initiative to commemorate their work on a new coin. On behalf of Israel’s government and citizens, I would like to express our appreciation and gratitude to the medical teams. We will continue to battle the coronavirus and with G-d’s help, together we will prevail.”
The Governor of the Bank of Israel, Prof. Amir Yaron, said, “The Bank of Israel is proud to perpetuate on the back of an official coin of the State of Israel our gratitude to the members of the medical system in Israel, for their uncompromising battle for the lives and health of the country’s citizens. From an international perspective, there is no doubt that the Israeli medical system’s successful dealing with the coronavirus, including the operation to vaccinate the population, is one of the main pillars that helped the Israeli economy endure the economic impacts of the health crisis and return to a path of accelerated recovery by the Israeli economy.”
Below is the design of the coin as approved by the government:
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The design of the obverse of the coin of gratitude to medical personnel: Mr. Eitan Alon (the reverse of the coin was designed by the late Mr. Gabi Neumann).
For more information about banknotes and coins issued by the Bank of Israel, please visit the Bank of Israel’s website at: https://www.boi.org.il/en/Currency/Pages/Default.aspx
For enquiries and questions regarding currency, please contact the Bank of Israel Currency Department by email at: contact_currenct@boi.org.il, or by phone at 1-800-300-018.