Albert Einstein

Albert Elnstein 2005/5765
Israel among the Nations Coin Series

Albert Einstein was the greatest scientist of the 20th century and perhaps of all times. The year 2005 was designated as "Einstein Year" or "The Year of Physics", noting the 100th anniversary of his "Annus Mirabilis" – the publishing of four papers that changed the world's conception of physics. These works clarified the essence of electromagnetic radiation and the atomic structure of matter, and shed new light on the concepts of time and space, laying the foundations for modern physics. He is best known for his Theory of Relativity and the mass-energy equivalence, expressed by the equation E = mc2. In 1916 he published his General Theory of Relativity in the form that is still used today.

Einstein received the Nobel Prize in 1921 for his contribution to theoretical physics and particularly for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect. He was a humanist and actively endorsed human dignity and freedom. He supported the Zionist Movement and was involved in the founding of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, to which he bequeathed literary rights to his writings. Thus the symbol of the University appears on the coin. When President Chaim Weizmann died in 1952, Einstein was asked to serve as Israel's second president. He declined the offer in a touching letter to David Ben Gurion.

Obverse: Face value on a background of elliptic, planetary orbits, Israel State Emblem, "Israel" in English, Hebrew and Arabic, Star of David and Hebrew University of Jerusalem Emblem, inscription "Einstein Year 2005" in Hebrew and English around the left-hand border and the currency unit - "New Sheqalim" - denomination of the face value, around the right-hand border in Hebrew, English and Arabic.

Reverse: Circular lines that reflect light differently from each angle create the image of Albert Einstein, border inscription "The Theory of Relativity 1905-2005" in Hebrew, English and Arabic, in the lower border, Einstein's mass-energy equivalence equation E = mc2

Edge: Silver Prooflike Coin: Smooth Silver Proof and Gold Coin: Milled

Mint Marks: Silver Prooflike Coin – Star of David Silver Proof and Gold Coin – Hebrew letter "Mem"

Designer: Adth van Ooijen

Plaster Models: Tidhar Dagan

Dies: Mint of Finland

Mint: Mint of Finland