Facebook accounts posted an image of a gold coin with a face value of 20 shekels, claiming it was a newly issued 20-shekel coin, replacing paper ones.
Kashif verified the image via Google Images tool and keywords. It found that the image is old and the claim is misleading. It is a gold coin from a series of bullion coins called “Jerusalem of Gold,” issued by the Bank of Israel in 2023, and not a circulating currency like the 20-shekel note.
Kashif searched the websites and accounts of the Palestinian Monetary Authority, the Bank of Israel, and Israeli media and websites, but found no mention of the issuance of a new 20-shekel coin to replace the paper one.
The Israel Coins and Medals Company (ICMC) website published photos of the circulating gold coin, explaining that it is the 13th gold bullion coin from the “Jerusalem of Gold” series. It is called the “Jerusalem Theater,” which appears on the front side of the coin, along with the face value, year of minting, and the “Star of David” mint mark. To the left of the coin appears the gold purity and weight (1 ounce), and on the upper right edge is the word “Jerusalem” in Hebrew, English, and Arabic.
The Israel Coins and Medals Company (ICMC) has been appointed as the official distributor of legal tender commemorative coins issued by the Bank of Israel, in addition to the medals of Israel. The company stated that since 2010, the Bank of Israel has been issuing a new coin every year in the “Jerusalem of Gold” series. The coin is minted from pure gold, weighs 1 ounce, and has a face value of 20 shekels, and is distributed in limited circulation worldwide.
| Sources of Claim | Sources of Verification |
| Jenin Mix – Mahmoud Abdel Hadi ElMaghazi New – ElMaghazi New Southern Castle – Rafah Qasim Al-Fara Ayman Ammar | The website and accounts of the Palestinian Monetary Authority, the Bank of Israel, the media and Hebrew websites, Israeli coins and medals (ICMC) (1) Israeli coins and medals (ICMC) (2) Israeli coins and medals (ICMC) 3) |
