An Israeli two-shekel commemorative coin depicting the prophet Jonah and the
whale was this week named coin of the year by Krause Publications, the leading
US publisher of numismatics periodicals.
The silver-proof coin was chosen
as the best from among 95 nominees, which were assessed by a panel of judges
over 10 categories including best silver coin, most popular coin, most artistic
coin and most inspirational coin.
In the first round, the Israeli coin
was selected as the most artistic coin, and in the second round it was chosen as
coin of the year from among the 10 category- winning coins. The competition
organizers said the design’s “simplicity speaks volumes and invokes a little bit
of wonder.”
“Jonah in the belly of the fish” was designed by Gideon Keich
and Aharon Shevo. It is the 16th commemorative coin in the Biblical Art series
issues by the Bank of Israel. Other coins in the series include “Elijah in the
Whirlwind,” “Samson and the Lion” and “And the Waters Were Divided.”