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Monday 30 December 2019

1188) Banknotes of the New Israeli Shekel (NIS): Series "A" (1985-1989), Series "B" (1999 - 2017) and Series "C" (2014 to present day):

1188) Banknotes of the New Israeli Shekel (NIS): Series "A" (1985-1989), Series "B" (1999 - 2017) and Series "C" (2014 to present day):

A Brief history of the evolution of the New Israeli Shekel (NIS):

The New Israeli Shekel (NIS), sub-divided into 100 Agora, is the currency of Israel and also used as legal tender in the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

The origin of the name "Shekel" dates back to an ancient biblical currency of the same name. Shekel is any of the several ancient units of weight or of currency in ancient Israel. It seems, that initially it referred to a weight of barley. The Shekel was a measure of about 180 grains (or 11.0 grams or .35 troy ounce).

On 14.05.1948, the modern State of Israel was established and the initial Banknotes of 1952 continued to be issued by the Anglo-Palestine Bank as the "Palestine Pound".

In 1952, the Anglo-Palestine Bank changed its name to "Bank Leumi Le-Yisrael (or the "National Bank of Israel") and the currency name was changed to the "Israeli Pound".

From 1952-1980, the Israeli Pound became the currency of Israel.

On 24.02.1980, the Israeli Pound was replaced by the Shekel.

In 1955, after the Bank of Israel was set up and took over the regulatory authority functions, including issuance of currency/banknotes, only the Hebrew name was used. 

In 1960, the sub-division of the Israeli Pound was changed from 1,000 Prutot to 100 Agorot.

Also, in the 1960s, the name Pound was changed to the Hebrew name - "Shekel".

Israeli Shekel (IS) - (1980-1985) - Known as the Old Shekel, this was the currency of Israel from 02/1980 to 12/1985. The Shekel went through frequent devaluations on account of hyperinflation, which led to the introduction of the New Shekel.

New Israeli Shekel  (NIS) - (1985 to present day) - The economic crisis of the 1980s led to the New Shekel being introduced.

Banknotes of the New Israeli Shekel (NIS):

"Series A": (1985-1999):

The First Series of Banknotes was introduced on 04.09.1985, in which Banknotes in the denominations of 2, 10 and 50 were initially circulated.

On 08.05.1986,  a 1 NIS Banknote was introduced.

On 19.08.1986, a 100 NIS Banknote was circulated.

On 02.04.1988, a 20 NIS Banknote was introduced.

On 16.02.1992, a 200 NIS Banknote was issued.

The 1, 5 and 10 NIS Banknotes presented the same basic designs as the 1000, 5000 and 10,000 Banknotes of the earlier "IS" Series, but were later replaced by coins of the same denominations.

"Series B": (1999-2017):

The Second Series of Banknotes was released in 1999, replacing the first series by 2005.

The second series contained the following denominations - 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 NIS.

On the Front of the 20 NIS Banknote is seen an effigy of Moshe Sharett, the second Prime Minister of Israel from 1954-55.

On the Back of the 20 NIS Banknote are seen Jewish volunteers in World War II, a watch-tower, commemorating tower and stockade settlements.

This Banknote was predominantly green in Colour and its Dimensions were 138.0 mm x 71.0 mm.

On the Front of the 50 NIS Banknote is seen an effigy of Shmuel Yosef Agnon, a Nobel Laureate in 1966, a writer and a central figure of modern Hebrew fiction.
On the Back of the 50 NIS Banknote is seen Agnon's notebook, pen and glasses, Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.

The Colour of this Banknote is predominantly purple and its Dimensions are 138.0 mm x 71.0 mm.

On the Front of the 100 NIS Banknote is seen a portrait of Yitzak Ben-Zvi, a historian, Labour Zionist leader and the longest serving President of Israel.

On the Back of the 100 NIS Banknote is seen the Peki"in Synagogue in Northern Israel, said to have built into its walls two stones taken from the walls of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.

The Colour of this Banknote is predominantly brown and its Dimensions are 138.0 mm x  71.0 mm.

On the Front of the 200 NIS Banknote is seen a portrait of Zalman Shazar, an Israel politician, author and poet. He served as the third President of Israel from 1963 to 1973.

On the Back of the 200 NIS Banknote is seen a street in Safed and text from Shazar's essay about Safed.

The Colour of this Banknote is predominantly red and its Dimensions are 138.0 mm x 71.0 mm.

On the Front of the 500 NIS Banknote is  seen a portrait of Yitzak Rabin, who was an Israeli politician, statesman and general. He was the fifth Prime Minister of Israel, serving two terms of office - 1974-77 and 1992, until his assassination in 1995.

On the Back of the 500 NIS Banknote is seen part of a speech given by the late Prime Minister, shortly before his assassination.

The Colour of this Banknote is predominantly blue and its Dimensions are - 138.0 mm x 71.0 mm.

Series "C" (2014 - present day):

The Third Series of Banknotes was introduced in 2014. 
It bears the portraits of prominent Hebrew poets. 

Banknotes in the denominations of 20, 50, 100 & 200 NIS were circulated in this Series.

On the Front of the 20 NIS Banknote, is seen a portrait of Rachel Bluwstein, who was a Hebrew poet who immigrated to Palestine, then part of the ottoman Empire, in 1909, her poem "Kinneret" in micro-print, and palm tree branches in the background.

On the Back of the 20 NIS Banknote is seen a vista of the Sea of Galilee shoreline, a segment from the poem "Perhaps it was nothing...…".

This Banknote was first issued on 23.11.2017 and its Dimensions are 129.0 mm x 71.0 mm and Colour is predominantly red.
On the Front of the 50 NIS Banknote is seen an effigy of Shaul Tchernichovsky, who was a Russian-born Hebrew poet. He is considered one of the greatest Hebrew poets, identified with nature poetry and as a poet, who was greatly influenced by the culture of ancient Greece.
On the Back of the 50 NIS Banknote is seen the capital of a Corinthian column, a segment from the poem "I Believe".

This Banknote was first issued on 16.09.2014, its Dimensions are 136 mm x 71.0 mm and its Colour is predominantly green.

On the Front of the 100 NIS Banknote is seen a profile of Leah Goldberg, who was a prolific Hebrew poet, author, playwright, literary translator and comparative literary researcher. Her poem "In the land of my love the almond tree blossoms, is seen in microprint. Also seen are almond tree blossoms in the background.

On the Back of the 100 NIS Banknote is seen a group of gazelles and a segment from the poem "White Days".

This Banknote was first issued on 23.11.2017, its Colour is predominantly orange and its Dimensions are 143 mm x 71.0 mm.

On the Front of the 200 NIS Banknote is seen an portrait of Nathan Alterman, who was an Israeli poet, playwright, journalist and translator. Though never holding any elected office, he was highly influential in Socialist Zionist politics, both before and after the establishment of the State of Israel. Also seen on this face is the poem "Eternal Meeting" in micro-print and fall leaves in the background.

On the Back of the 200 NIS Banknote is seen moonlit flora, and a segment of the poem "Morning Song".

This Banknote was first issued on 23.12.2015, its Colour is predominantly blue and its Dimensions are - 150 mm x 71.0 mm.




(Both the 50 NIS Banknotes depicted above are from the collection of Jayant Biswas. Post researched & written by Rajeev Prasad)




Links to more posts from ICMC, Israel:
Gates of Jerusalem Coin Series:

1) "Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem", Israel: First Coin in the "Gates of Jerusalem" Coin Series: Gold & Silver Bullion Coins issued by the Israel Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC) and minted by the Holy Land Mint in 2017:
Birds of Israel Coin Series:

Other interesting posts from Israel:
2) Centenary of the Battle of Haifa, Israel: Eretz, fought in September 2018 by the Indian cavalry comprising Jodhpur and Mysore Lancers against German and Turkish troops: A commemorative stamp brought out by Israel Post on 06.02.2018:

3) Butterflies of Israel: A Series of Eight Coins issued by the Israel Coins and Medals Corporation (ICMC), minted by the Holy Land Mint (2018)


"Views of Jerusalem" Gold and Silver Bullion Coin Series:

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