Moshe Dayan

Lieutenant General Moshe Dayan
Official Medal 2009/5769
10th in the "Chief of Staffs of the Israel Defense Forces" Series

Moshe Dayan was born on Kibbutz Degania and raised on Moshav Nahalal. In his youth, he served as a guard in the fields of the Moshav and later joined the ranks of the Jewish militia known as the "Hagana". In 1938-1938, he served in the "Field Companies" under the command of Yitzhak Sdeh and in the "Special Night Squads" established by Wingate.
Dayan was arrested in 1939 for the illegal possession of firearms. He was released two years later and joined the combat forces of the "Hagana". Dayan lost his left eye during one of the battles and was forced to adopt the black eye-patch that became his trademark.
During Israel's War of Independence, Dayan served as the Commander of the 89th Regiment, entrusted with defending the settlements in the Jordan Valley. In August 1948, he was appointed to command the Jerusalem Sector and conducted negotiations with King Abdullah of Jordan.
Dayan continued to rise through the ranks, and from 1953 to1958 he served as the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces. In this capacity, he commanded the Israeli forces to victory during the 1956 Suez Crisis, adding a heroic aura to his image.
He embarked on his political career in 1959 and was appointed to serve as Defense Minister during the crisis that preceded the Six Day War. Dayan's contribution to the victorious outcome of the war added to his worldwide reputation.
Following the Yom Kippur War, Dayan became a controversial figure on the Israeli scene. He was highly criticized for the IDF's lack of preparedness against the surprise attack waged by the Arab forces.
He served as Foreign Minister in Prime Minister Menachen Begin's Likud government and played a central role in the historic visit of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in November 1977, as well as in the subsequent and successful peace talks with Egypt.
Moshe Dayan died in 1981 and is buried in Nahalal. Many view him as one of Israel's greatest military and political leaders.

Obverse:
Portrait of Lieutenant General Moshe Dayan

Reverse:
Inscription in the center “Chiefs of Staff of the Israel Defense Force" in English and Hebrew,
above, the emblem of the Israel Defense Force, to the right, emblem of the Chief of Staff

Edge:
Smooth

Designer:
Igal Gabay

Engraving: Slovakia
Minting: Gold - ICMC Mint, Israel, Silver and Bronze - Slovakia