Egypt is in the process of issuing new half pound coins with the logo of the new Suez Canal on them, according to a finance ministry statement released on Thursday.

In August, Egypt inaugurated the expansion of the Suez Canal to include a new waterway parallel to the historic one as part of the government's plans to revive the economy through megaprojects and foreign investment.

As part of the celebrations, the finance ministry issued gold coins with the logo of the new Suez Canal with various weights which have sold to the value of LE8 million ($1 miilion) thus far, the statement said.