1326) 72nd Anniversary of Independence ("Yom Ha'atzmaut"), Israel: Gold (10 NIS), Silver (2 NIS) & Silver Proof-like (1 NIS) Coins issued on the theme - "Desert Agriculture" by ICMC (Israel Coins & Medals Corporation), Israel: Date of Coins issue: 20.04.2020:

1326) 72nd Anniversary of Independence ("Yom Ha'atzmaut"), Israel: Gold (10 NIS), Silver (2 NIS) & Silver Proof-like (1 NIS) Coins issued on the theme - "Desert Agriculture" by ICMC (Israel Coins & Medals Corporation), Israel: Date of Coins issue: 20.04.2020:

The Bank of Israel has issued on 20.04.2020, new collector coins in the denominations of 10 NIS (Gold), 2 NIS (Silver) and 1 NIS (Proof-like) celebrating Israel's 72nd Anniversary of Independence. This important national milestone is marked every year with collector coins being issued annually, and they depict a new theme and an important element of Israel.

The Obverse & Reverse of the 1 NIS Silver Proof-like coin placed side-by-side

Agriculture in the Negev Desert existed since ancient times, and with the establishment of the modern State of Israel in 1948, the dream of Israel's first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion was to "make the desert bloom".

Ben-Gurion strongly encouraged settlement of the Negev and Judean Deserts, but with the underlying fact that 60 percent of Israel's territory was desert land, there was a need to overcome the challenges of a hot, dry climate, something Israel achieved with success.

Use of advanced technology and techniques led to the production of some of the world's highest and best agricultural areas diminished in size and it became even more critical to take advantage of the Negev Desert Region.

The need for water conservation also led to the development of hydroponics, the most efficient means of irrigation, including the use of recycled water and drip irrigation, was initially developed in Israel. The saline water of the Desert was found sufficient enough for olives to thrive.

Presently, fruit and vegetables, including some of the world's sweetest cherry tomatoes, are grown in abundance in hi-tech green-houses, with some items regularly exported. 

In the Southern Negev, where, 2,000 years ago, the Nabatean found favourable conditions for cultivating grapevines. In the Arava in the far South and further North in the Jordan Valley, the popular Medjoul dates are grown with an emphasis on the tasty "bonbon" variety, which are exported to over 30 different countries.

Meeting the challenges of the desert has created a "desert revolution" in Israel, the seeds of which have become distributed all over the world. Many other countries, also coping with these same climatic challenges today, look to Israel for help and inspiration.

The Commemorative Coins:

The Coins are issued in three variants - 10 NIS (Gold), 2 NIS (Silver) and 1 NIS (Silver Proof-like).

 All three coins bear the same designs except for the mint mark, which is either the 5 pointed Star of David or the Hebrew Letter "Mem" and have been minted by the Holy Land Mint:

On the Obverse of the Coin is depicted the Israel State Emblem towards the upper periphery, "Israel" is inscribed on the outer periphery in three languages - English, Hebrew and Arabic. 

"INDEPENDENCE DAY 2020" is mentioned in English & Hebrew. The face value of the Coin and mint mark (five pointed star of David or the Hebrew letter "Mem") are engraved on this face.

Behind the face value of the coin is an element representing the hot desert sun. In the lower section, artistic elements represent tomatoes (left) and grapes (right) grown in the Negev Desert.

On the Reverse of the Coin there is a peripheral inscription - "DESERT AGRICULTURE" (in English, Hebrew and Arabic) and olive branches. 

At left is the strong desert sun, greenhouses and rectangles of a histogram - signifying control of growth conditions in the greenhouses.

At right, panels for production of solar energy, grapes, peppers and tomatoes, representing the fruit and vegetables grown in the Negev are depicted.

Further below, drops of water and pipes symbolise drip irrigation.

The Coins are issued in three variants - 10 NIS (Gold), 2 NIS (Silver) and 1 NIS (Silver Proof-like). 

The specifications of these coins are:

The Gold 10 NIS variant:

Denomination: 10 NIS (Shekel); Metal Composition: .917 or 22K Gold (Au); Weight: 16.96 grams; Diameter/Size: 30.0 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Maximum Mintage: 555 pieces; Mint: Holy Land Mint; Mint Mark: "Mem"; Year: 2020; Designer: ER Design Team.

The Silver 2 NIS variant:

Denomination: 2 NIS (Shekel); Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 31.1 grams or 1 Oz; Diameter/Size: 38.7 mm; Mint: Holy Land Mint; Mint Mark: "Mem"; Maximum Mintage: 2,800 pieces; Year: 2020; Designer: ER Design Team.

The 1 NIS Silver Proof-like variant:

Denomination: 1 NIS (Shekel); Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Silver (Ag); Coin Quality: Proof-like; Weight: 14.4 grams; Diameter/Size: 30.0 mm; Mint: Holy Land Mint; Mint Mark: Star of David; Maximum Mintage: 1,800 pieces; Year: 2020; Designer: ER Design Team.

Each Coin is encapsulated and presented individually in a custom Holy Land Mint branded case and is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).

Links to more posts from ICMC, Israel:
Gates of Jerusalem Coin Series:

1) "Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem", Israel: First Coin in the "Gates of Jerusalem" Coin Series: Gold & Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Israel Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC) and minted by the Holy Land Mint in 2017:

2) "Lion's Gate", Jerusalem, Israel: Second Coin in the "Gates of Jerusalem" Coin Series: Gold and Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Israel Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC) and minted by the Holy Land Mint in 2018:

3) "Damascus Gate", Jerusalem, Israel: Third Coin in the "Gates of Jerusalem" Coin Series: Gold and Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Israel Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC) and minted by the Holy Land Mint in 2018 (with the year of issue as 2019):

4) "New Gate", Jerusalem, Israel: Fourth Coin in the "Gates of Jerusalem" Coin Series: Gold and Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Isral Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC) and minted by the Holy Land Mint in 2019

5) "Golden Gate", Jerusalem, Israel: Fifth Coin in the "Gates of Jerusalem" Coin Series: Gold and Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Israel Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC) and minted by the Holy Land Mint in 2019

Birds of Israel Coin Series:

 1) Hoopoe: First coin in the "Birds of Israel Coin Series"

2) Warbler: Second Coin in the Birds of Israel Coin Series"

3) Vulture: Third coin in the "Birds of Israel Coin Series"

4) Lesser Kestrel: Fourth Coin in the "Birds of Israel Coin Series"

5) Goldfinch: Fifth Coin in the "Birds of Israel Coin Series"

6) Kingfisher: Sixth Coin in the "Birds of Israel Coin Series"

7) Sunbird: Seventh Coin in the "Birds of Israel Coin Series"

8) Barn Owl: Eighth Coin in the "Birds of Israel Coin Series"

Other interesting posts from Israel:

1) 50 Years of Reunification of Israel: Israel's 69th anniversary 50 Shekel gold coin and 10 Shekel Silver coin issued on 01.08.2017:

2) Centenary of the Battle of Haifa, Israel: Eretz, fought in September 2018 by the Indian cavalry comprising Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers against German and Turkish troops: A commemorative stamp brought out by Israel Post on 06.02.2018:

3) Butterflies of Israel: A Series of Eight Coins issued by the Israel Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC), minted by the Holy Land Mint (2018)

4) 71st Anniversary of Israel's establishment: "Innovation Nation": A Gold 10 New Israeli Shekel (NIS) , a Silver 2 NIS Coin and a Silver 1 NIS Coin celebrate this year's milestone

5) "Jerusalem Windmill", Israel: The Ninth Coin in the Jerusalem of Gold Bullion Coin Series: Issue Year: 2019

6) "The Twelve Spies", ICMC, Israel: 23rd Coin in the Biblical Art series: Gold 10 & 1 New Israeli Shekel (NIS) and Silver 2 & 1 New Israeli Shekel (NIS) Coins issued by the Holy Land Mint:

7) Ancient Roman Arenas (in Israel): A set of three Stamps issued by Israel Post on 19.12.2017

8) Banknotes of the New Israeli Shekel (NIS): Series "A" (1985-1989), Series "B" (1999-2017) and Series "C" (2014 to Present Day)

9) Flowers of Israel: A set of eight Silver Medals issued by Israel Coin and Medals Corporation (ICMC) featuring the - Poppy Anemone, Cyclamen, Common Narcissus, Bristly Hollyhock, Common Caper, Crown Daisies, Steven's Meadow Saffron and Dark Purple Iris: Issue Year: 2019

10) Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel: 50th Anniversary Celebrations: A stamp of NIS 5.0 issued by Israel Post: Date of Stamp issue: 05.01.2020

11) Concentration Camps, Liberation, Israel: 75 years ago (1945-2020): A commemorative postage stamp issued by Israel Post on Concentration Camps, Displaced Person's Camps and creation of Eretz Israel (The "Land of Israel"): Date of Stamp issue: 21.04.2020:

12) Mikve Israel: Commemorating 150 Years of Mikve Israel (1870-2020): A postage stamp brought out by Israel Post celebrating the milestone: Date of Stamp issue:21.04.2020

13) 72nd Anniversary of Independence ("Yom Ha'atmaut"), Israel: Gold (10 NIS), Silver (2 NIS)) & Silver Proof-like (1 NIS) Coins issued on the theme - "Desert agriculture"by ICMC (Israel Coins & Medals Corporation), Israel: Date of Coins issue: 20.04.2020

"Views of Jerusalem" Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Series:

1) Walls of Jerusalem: Third Coin in the Series Gold and Silver Bullion Coins issued by ICMC, Israel & the Holy Land Mint (2018)

2) The City of David: Fourth Coin in the Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Series issued by ICMC, Israel & the Holy Land Mint, Israel (2019)

"Ancient Cities of the Holy Land Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Series":

1) Old Jaffa, Israel: The "Ancient Cities of the Holy Land" Gold & Silver Bullion Coin Series minted by the Israel Coinsand Medals Corporation (ICMC) through the Holy Land Mint: Date of issue: 01.03.2020

For some other interesting posts from Italy/The Vatican, please visit the following links:

1) Israel-Vatican Joint Issue: Celebrating 25 Years of Diplomatic Relations between Israel and The Vatican: A Commemorative Stamp issued jointly by the Vatican Numismatic Service and Israel Post on 10.09.2019