Israel

The young Jewish State, established May 1948, issued its first coins about one year later. True to its heritage, Israel saw to it that the motifs on most of the coins reflected those on ancient Jewish coins struck in Biblical times.

The Israel Government Coins and Medals Corporation is authorized by law to be the sole distributor of commemorative and special issue coins. Since Israel's tenth anniversary, the Israel Government Coins and Medals Corporation has distributed more than 120 commemorative and special issue coins.

It was established in 1961 by Israel's first Prime Minister, David Gen Gurion, and belonged to the Government of Israel until the year 2008. In 2008 the company was privatized and taken over by G.R.A.S. Design Combinations, Ltd., active and respected in Israel for over two decades in the field of fine jewelry design as well as of original Israeli art.

G.R.A.S., the new owners and operators, undertook to preserve the unique characteristics of the ICMC vis a vis the Government of Israel and to maintain its dedication to the values for which the ICMC was renowned, since its inception, in accordance with Ben Gurion’s original vision. The company’s objectives, as per Ben Gurion, have been to commemorate historic and national events, scientific achievements and cultural and social and milestones and to celebrate significant people and places in Jewish and Israeli life, as well as to provide an artistic expression of these and of more personal events in one’s lifetime experiences.

For further information, contact the Israel Coins & Medals Corp. POB 2040 – 50 Bar Yehuda Road Nesher, Israel 36660, Phone: 972-4-8212807 Fax: 8212818, Email: medals@coins.co.il, Website: http://www.israelmint.com/