News in Brief

Israel Honours Health Workers with Coin

The Bank of Israel (BOI) held a special ceremony attended by the country’s president to launch a new NIS 5 coin in appreciation of the Israeli health and medical system for their contribution and struggle for the lives and health of Israel’s citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The design of the front of the coin was selected as part of a competition featuring 15 graphic designers from Israel, from which BOI governor, Prof Amir Yaron, picked the winning design from three proposals chosen by the Public Committee for the Planning of Banknotes, Coins and Commemorative Coins. Following the launch, more than 2 million of the coins will enter circulation.

Commenting on the new coins, Prof Yaron said: ‘I am pleased at the opportunity that I have today to announce the issuance to the public of a special issue NIS 5 coin to commemorate and honour the contribution of the medical teams to the struggle against the pandemic, and to commemorate such a historic event on a coin, the legal tender of the state.’