Bank Leumi Le-Israel Series
On May 1, 1951 all the assets and liabilities of the Anglo Palestine Bank were transferred to a new company called Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M., and it therefore became necessary to issue a new series of banknotes. These were almost identical to the Anglo-Palestine Bank series, except that the colour of some of the notes was different. The name of the currency was the "Israeli Pound".
The new money was introduced in June 1952, along with a 10 percent compulsory loan levied on cash holdings and current accounts.
Size: |
148 X 72 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Olive-green on light-blue. |
Front: |
Guilloches; the denomination "500 Prutah" and "Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M." in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Guilloches; the denomination "Five Hundred Prutah" and "Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M." in Arabic and English. |
Colour of numbering: |
Red. |
Signatures: |
S. Hoofien, A. Barth. |
Design: |
American Banknote Co., New York. |
Date of issue: |
June 9, 1952. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
February 7, 1961. |
Size: |
150 X 75 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Green-pink. |
Front: |
Guilloches; the denomination "One Israel Pound" and "Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M." in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Guilloches; the denomination "One Israel Pound" and "Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M." in Arabic and English. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
S. Hoofien, A. Barth. |
Design: |
American Banknote Co., New York. |
Date of issue: |
June 9, 1952. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
February 7, 1961. |
Size: |
155 X 80 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Red-brown. |
Front: |
Guilloches; the denomination "Five Israel Pounds" and "Bank Leurni le-Israel B.M." in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Guilloches; the denomination "Five Israel Pounds" and "Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M." in Arabic and English. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
S. Hoofien, A. Barth. |
Design: |
American Banknote Co., New York. |
Date of issue: |
June 9, 1952. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
February 7, 1961. |
Size: |
155 X 80 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Grey-Pink. |
Front: |
Guilloches; the denomination "Ten Israel Pounds" and "Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M." in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Guilloches; the denomination "Ten Israel Pounds" and "Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M." in Arabic and English. |
Colour of numbering: |
Red. |
Signatures: |
S. Hoofien, A. Barth. |
Design: |
American Banknote Co., New York. |
Date of issue: |
June 9, 1952. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
February 7, 1961. |
Size: |
160 X 85 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Brown-green. |
Front: |
Guilloches; the denomination "Fifty Israel Pounds" and "Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M." in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Guilloches; the denomination "Fifty Israel Pounds" and "Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M." in Arabic and English. |
Colour of numbering: |
Red. |
Signatures: |
S. Hoofien, A. Barth. |
Design: |
American Banknote Co., New York. |
Date of issue: |
June 9, 1952. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
February 7, 1961. |
First Series of the Pound
On the initiative of its first Governor, David Horowitz, and with the assistance of a special committee headed by Mr. S. Hoofien, a new series of banknotes was prepared; this, within the authority vested in the Bank by the Bank of Israel Law.
The committee chose Israeli landscapes as the motif, and commissioned graphic artists from Thomas de la Rue and Co. of London to design the notes. Abstract patterns were printed on the back of the notes. Four notes were gradually put into circulation in August-October 1955. The fifth was issued in 1957.
Size: |
130 X 72 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Red. |
Front: |
Ruins of an ancient synagogue at Bir'am in Upper Galilee; the denomination "500 Pruta" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
An abstract design; the denomination "500 Pruta" and "Bank of Israel" in Arabic and English. |
Watermark: |
Seven-branched candelabrum with an imprint of cyclamen. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank David Horowitz; Chairman of the Advisory Council S. Hoofien. |
Design: |
Thomas de la Rue and Co., London. |
Year: |
1955. |
Date of issue: |
August 4, 1955. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
March 31, 1984. |
Size: |
135 X 72 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Blue. |
Front: |
View of Upper Galilee; the denomination "One Israeli Pound" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
An abstract design; the denomination "One Israeli Pound" and "Bank of Israel" in Arabic and English. |
Watermark: |
Seven-branched candelabrum with an imprint of anemones. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank David Horowitz; Chairman of the Advisory Council S. Hoofien. |
Design: |
Thomas de la Rue and Co., London. |
Year: |
1955. |
Date of issue: |
October 27, 1955. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
March 31, 1984. |
Size: |
140 X 78 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Brown. |
Front: |
Negev landscape with a settlement and farm equipment; the denomination "Five Israeli Pounds" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
An abstract design; the denomination "Five Israeli Pounds" and "Bank of Israel" in Arabic and English. |
Watermark: |
Seven-branched candelabrum with an imprint of irises. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank David Horowitz; Chairman of the Advisory Council S. Hoofien. |
Design: |
Thomas de la Rue and Co., London. |
Year: |
1955. |
Date of issue: |
October 27, 1955. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
March 31, 1984. |
Size: |
150 X 82 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Green. |
Front: |
View of the Jezreel Valley depicting settlements and cultivated fields; the denomination "Ten Israeli Pounds" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
An abstract design; the denomination "Ten Israeli Pounds" and "Bank of Israel" in Arabic and English. |
Watermark: |
Seven-branched candelabrum with an imprint of tulips. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. Red (June, 1958). |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank David Horowitz; Chairman of the Advisory Council S. Hoofien. |
Design: |
Thomas de la Rue and Co., London. |
Year: |
1955. |
Date of issue: |
August 4, 1955. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
March 31, 1984. |
Size: |
160 X 87 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Blue. |
Front: |
The road to Jerusalem; the denomination "Fifty Israeli Pounds" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
An abstract design; the denomination "Fifty Israeli Pounds" and "Bank of Israel" in Arabic and English. |
Watermark: |
Seven-branched candelabrum with an imprint of oleander. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. Red (May, 1960). |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank David Horowitz; Chairman of the Advisory Council S. Hoofien. |
Design: |
Thomas de la Rue and Co., London. |
Year: |
1955. |
Date of issue: |
September 19, 1957. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
March 31, 1984. |
Second Series of the Pound
The abstract patterns of the first series did not meet with public approval. When criticism mounted, the Governor decided to issue a new series, and appointed a public committee to plan the notes. The committee selected drawings of people illustrating different walks of Israeli life (a pioneer-woman soldier, fisherman, scientist, etc.) as the principal motif and archaeological subjects as the secondary motif.
The form and size of the notes differed from those of the previous series. The basic sketches were the work of Israeli artists. The series was put into circulation in 1959-60, and gradually replaced the previous series.
From this series onwards, the banknotes of Israel are printed in several state or state-controlled banknote printing works in Europe.
Size: |
130 X 72 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Green. |
Front: |
Pioneer-woman soldier holding a basket of oranges against a background of fields; the denomination "1/2 Israeli Pound" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Tomb of the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem; "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic. |
Watermark: |
The face of the woman soldier. |
Security thread: |
On the left-hand side of the note. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank David Horowitz; Chairman of the Advisory Council J.E. Nebenzahl. |
Design: |
Shamir Brothers, Jacob Zim. |
Year: |
1958. |
Date of issue: |
October 15, 1959. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
March 31, 1984. |
Size: |
135 X 75 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Blue. |
Front: |
Fisherman carrying fishing gear against a background of a bay; the denomination "One Israeli Pound" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Mosaic from the floor of an ancient synagogue at lssafiya on Mt. Carmel; "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic. |
Watermark: |
The face of the fisherman. |
Security thread: |
On the left-hand side of the note. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. Red (June 1964). |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank David Horowitz; Chairman of the Advisory Council J.E. Nebenzahl. |
Design: |
Shamir Brothers, Jacob Zim. |
Year: |
1958. |
Date of issue: |
October 15, 1959. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
March 31, 1984. |
Size: |
140 X 78 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Brown. |
Front: |
Labourer holding a sledge-hammer against a background of an industrial plant; the denomination "Five Israeli Pounds" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Roaring lion depicted on an ancient Hebrew seal found at Megiddo; "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic. |
Watermark: |
The face of the labourer. |
Security thread: |
On the left-hand side of the note. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank David Horowitz; Chairman of the Advisory Council J.E. Nebenzahl. |
Design: |
Shamir Brothers, Jacob Zim. |
Year: |
1958. |
Date of issue: |
October 15, 1959. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
March 31, 1984. |
Size: |
150 X 82 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Purple. |
Front: |
Scientist in a laboratory; the denomination "Ten Israeli pounds" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Passage from the Book of Isaiah. Dead Sea Scrolls; "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic. |
Watermark: |
The face of the scientist. |
Security thread: |
On the left-hand side of the note. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. Red (January 1967); blue (April 1967); brown (September 1969). |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank David Horowitz; Chairman of the Advisory Council J.E. Nebenzahl. |
Design: |
Shamir Brothers, Jacob Zim. |
Year: |
1958. |
Date of issue: |
October 15, 1959. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
March 31, 1984. |
Size: |
178 X 93 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Brown. |
Front: |
Two young pioneers against a background of an agricultural settlement in the Negev; the denomination "Fifty Israeli Pounds" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Candelabrum from the ancient synagogue of Nirim in the Negev; "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic. |
Watermark: |
The faces of the pioneers. |
Security thread: |
In the middle of the note. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. Red (February 1965); blue (December 1966); green (May 1967); brown (September 1969). |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank David Horowitz; Chairman of the Advisory Council J.E. Nebenzahl. |
Design: |
Shamir Brothers, Jacob Zim. |
Year: |
1960. |
Date of issue: |
December 9, 1960. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
March 31, 1984. |
Third Series of the Pound
When the need arose for a new, higher-denomination note, a IL 100 note, bearing the portrait of Theodor Herzl, was introduced in February 1969. This was also the first note in a new series, which was designed by foreign graphic artists, who based their work on material and information supplied by the bank. The notes featured the portraits of prominent personalities in the history of the Jewish people.
The other notes in this series were put into circulation in 1970-72.
Size: |
150 X 75 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Light blue. |
Front: |
Portrait of Albert Einstein; the denomination "Five Israeli Pounds" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Atomic reactor at Nahal Sorek; "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic. |
Watermark: |
Profile of A. Einstein. |
Security thread: |
On the left-hand side of the note. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. Red (March 1974). |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank David Horowitz; Chairman of the Advisory Council Y. Chorin. |
Design: |
Prof. Masino Besi, Italy and Sam Hertz, Holland. |
Year: |
1968. |
Date of issue: |
January 13, 1972. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
March 31, 1984. |
Size: |
160 X 80 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Yellow-ivory. |
Front: |
Portrait of Chaim Nachman Bialik; the denomination "Ten Israeli Pounds" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Bialik's home in Tel-Aviv; "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic. |
Watermark: |
Profile of C.N. Bialik. |
Security thread: |
On the left-hand side of the note. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black and blue. Green (March 1971). |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank David Horowitz; Chairman of the Advisory Council Y. Chorin. |
Design: |
Prof. Masino Besi and Prof. M. Baiardi, Italy. |
Year: |
1968. |
Date of issue: |
August 6, 1970. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
March 31, 1984. |
Size: |
170 X 85 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Brown-red. |
Front: |
Portrait of Chaim Weizmann the denomination "Fifty Israeli Pounds" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Knesset Building in Jerusalem; "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic. |
Watermark: |
Profile of Ch. Weizmann. |
Security thread: |
On the right-hand side of the note. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. Blue (October 1976). |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank David Horowitz; Chairman of the Advisory Council Y. Chorin. |
Design: |
Prof. Masino Besi and Prof. M. Baiardi, Italy. |
Year: |
1968. |
Date of issue: |
January 13, 1972. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
March 31, 1984. |
Size: |
180 X 90 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Blue. |
Front: |
Portrait of Theodor Herzl; the denomination "One Hundred Israeli Pounds" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Emblem of the State of Israel surrounded by the emblems of the twelve tribes; "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic. |
Watermark: |
Profile of Theodor Herzl. |
Security thread: |
On the left-hand side of the note (black and red numbering); On the right-hand side of the note (black numbering with no letter affix and brown numbering) |
Colour of numbering: |
Black, Red (March 1971) and Brown (March 1974).
|
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank David Horowitz; Chairman of the Advisory Council Y. Chorin. |
Design: |
Prof. Masino Bessi, Italy and H.J. Bard, Britain. |
Year: |
1968. |
Date of issue: |
February 27, 1969. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
March 31, 1984. |
Fourth Series of the Pound
To save on production costs and permit automatic sorting of banknotes, the Bank of Israel issued a new series with a standard width of 76 mm. The face of these notes, too, bore portraits of outstanding personalities, while the motif selected for the back was the gates of the Old City of Jerusalem.
Another innovation was the printing of dots in intaglio to enable the blind to identify the denomination of the notes. A IL 500 note was first issued in this series, which was put into circulation in 1975-78.
On the back of the notes, bars of binary codes were imprinted in invisible ink, for the purpose of automatic detection.
Starting with this series, the Arabic caligraphy is inscribed by Yousuf Wahba.
Size: |
128 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Brown. |
Front: |
Portrait of Henrietta Szold; Hadassah Hospital on Mt. Scopus in Jerusalem; the denomination "Five Israeli Pounds" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Lion's Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem; "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic. |
Watermark: |
Profile of Henrietta Szold. |
Sign for the blind: |
Three black dots in the lower left-hand corner of the front. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank Moshe Sanbar; Chairman of the Advisory Council David Horowitz. |
Design: |
Paul Kor, Adrian Senger. |
Year: |
1973. |
Date of issue: |
March 11, 1976. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
March 31, 1984. |
Size: |
135 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Pink-purple. |
Front: |
Portrait of Moshe Montefiori; the "Mishkanot Shaananim" quarter in Jerusalem with the windmill; the denomination "Ten Israeli Pounds" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Jaffa Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem; "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic. |
Watermark: |
Profile of Moshe Montefiori. |
Sign for the blind: |
Two black dots in the lower left-hand corner of the front. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank Moshe Sanbar; Chairman of the Advisory Council David Horowitz. |
Design: |
Paul Kor, Adrian Senger. |
Year: |
1973. |
Date of issue: |
January 30, 1975. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
March 31, 1984. |
Size: |
141 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Green. |
Front: |
Portrait of Chaim Weizmann; the Wix Library at the Weizmann Institute of Science; the denomination "Fifty Israeli Pounds" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Damascus gate in the Old City of Jerusalem; "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic. |
Watermark: |
Profile of Ch. Weizmann. |
Sign for the blind: |
One black dot in the lower left-hand corner of the front. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank Moshe Sanbar; Chairman of the Advisory Council David Horowitz. |
Design: |
Paul Kor, Adrian Senger. |
Year: |
1973. |
Date of issue: |
January 26, 1978. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
March 31, 1984. |
Size: |
147 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Blue. |
Front: |
Portrait of Theodor Herzl; the entrance gate to Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem; the denomination "One Hundred Israeli Pounds" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Zion Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem; "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic. |
Watermark: |
Profile of Theodor Herzl. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank Moshe Sanbar; Chairman of the Advisory Council David Horowitz. |
Design: |
Paul Kor, Adrian Senger. |
Year: |
1973. |
Date of issue: |
March 14, 1975. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
March 31, 1984. |
Size: |
153 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Ivory-brown. |
Front: |
Portrait of David Ben-Gurion; the library at kibbutz Sde Boker; the denomination "Five Hundred Israeli Pounds" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Golden Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem; "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic. |
Watermark: |
Profile of David Ben-Gurion. |
Sign for the blind: |
A black oval in the lower left-hand corner of the front. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank Moshe Sanbar; Chairman of the Advisory Council David Horowitz. |
Design: |
Dutch artists. |
Year: |
1975. |
Date of issue: |
May 26, 1977. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
March 31, 1984. |
Sheqel Series
On June 4, 1969 the Knesset passed a law providing for the sheqel to become the currency of Israel at a date to be determined on the recommendation of the Governor of the Bank of Israel. In November 1977 conditions were considered ripe for implementing this law, and in May 1978 Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Finance Minister Simcha Erlich approved the Governor's proposal to introduce a series of sheqel banknotes identical to the Israeli pound notes except for the denominations, which were to be determined by dropping one zero from the denominations of the pound series.
The notes were prepared in the same colour and size and with the same portraits as the pound series in order to make it easier for the public to become familiar with the new denominations.
The preparations were conducted in complete secrecy over a period of more than two years. On February 22, 1980 the sheqel was declared legal tender, and the first notes went into circulation on February 24, 1980.
This was the largest series of banknotes in the history of the State of Israel. Initially there were four denominations (1,5, 10 and 50 sheqalim), but as inflation accelerated, another five were added between 1981 and 1985 - 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 sheqalim.
Beginning with the IS 500 denomination, the banknotes were printed in distinct colours and standard size (76x138 mm), thus achieving a considerable economy in production costs. A new security device - a look-through - was incorporated, while special signs for the blind continued to be printed in various geometrical forms.
Size: |
135 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Purple. |
Front: |
Portrait of Moshe Montefiori: the ",Mishkanot Shaananim quarter in Jerusalem with the windmill: the denomination "One Sheqel" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Jaffa Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem; "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic. |
Watermark: |
Profile of Moshe Montefiori. |
Sign for the blind: |
Two black dots in the lower left-hand corner of the front. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank Arnon Gafni; Chairman of the Advisory Council David Horowitz. |
Design: |
Paul Kor, Adrian Senger. |
Year: |
1978. |
Date of issue: |
February 24, 1980. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
September 4, 1986. |
Size: |
141 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Green. |
Front: |
Portrait of Chaim Weizmann; the Wix Library at the Weizmann Institute of Science; the denomination "Five Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Damascus Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem; "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic. |
Watermark: |
Profile of Ch. Weizmann. |
Sign for the blind: |
A black dot the lower left-hand corner of the front. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank Arnon Gafni; Chairman of the Advisory Council David Horowitz. |
Design: |
Paul Kor, Adrian Senger. |
Year: |
1978. |
Date of issue: |
February 24, 1980. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
September 4, 1986. |
Size: |
147 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Blue. |
Front: |
Portrait of Theodor Herzl; the entrance gate to Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem; the denomination "Ten Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Zion Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem; "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic. |
Watermark: |
Profile of Theodor Herzl. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank Arnon Gafni; Chairman of the Advisory Council David Horowitz. |
Design: |
Paul Kor, Adrian Senger. |
Year: |
1978. |
Date of issue: |
February 24, 1980. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
September 4, 1986. |
Size: |
153 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Ivory-brown. |
Front: |
Portrait of David Ben-Gurion; the library at kibbutz Sde Boker; the denomination "Fifty Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" Hebrew. |
Back: |
Golden Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem; "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic. |
Watermark: |
Profile of David Ben-Gurion. |
Sign for the blind: |
A black oval in the lower left-hand corner of the front. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank Arnon Gafni; Chairman of the Advisory Council David Horowitz. |
Design: |
Dutch artists. |
Year: |
1978. |
Date of issue: |
February 24, 1980. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
September 4, 1986. |
Size: |
159 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Orange-brown. |
Front: |
Portrait of Ze'ev Jabotinsky; the old inn "Shuni" near Binyamina; the denomination "One Hundred Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Herod Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem; the word "Jerusalem" in microtext; "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew, English and Arabic. |
Watermark: |
Profile of Ze'ev Jabotinsky. |
Security thread: |
On the left-hand side of the note. |
Look-through: |
The first zero in the number "100" In the upper left-hand corner of the front merges with the corresponding zero in the number "100" in the upper right-hand corner of the back. |
Sign for the blind: |
Parallel horizontal lines, narrow In the middle and wide in the upper and lower sides. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank Arnon Gafni; Chairman of the Advisory Council David Horowitz. |
Design: |
Dutch artists. |
Year: |
1979. |
Date of issue: |
December 11, 1980. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
September 4, 1986. |
Size: |
138 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Red. |
Front: |
Portrait of Baron Edmond de Rothschild; a group of agricultural workers; the denomination "Five Hundred Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Cluster of grapes; names of 44 settlements in the Land of Israel in two lines of microprint, "500 Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Arabic and English. |
Watermark: |
Portrait of Edmond de Rothschild. |
Security thread: |
In the middle of the note. |
Look-through: |
Four rhombi on the front merge with two rhombi on the back to form a Star of David when held against the light. |
Sign for the blind: |
A small circle in the lower right-hand corner of the front. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank Moshe Mandelbaum; Chairman of the Advisory Council Haim Barkai. |
Design: |
Zvi Narkiss. |
Year: |
1982. |
Date of issue: |
December 1, 1982. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
September 4, 1986. |
Size: |
138 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Green. |
Front: |
Portrait of Maimonides (Rambam); a passage from his manuscript of the "Mishneh Tora" (code of Jewish law); the denomination "One Thousand Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Stylized view of Tiberias where Maimonides is buried; an ancient candelabrum; the denomination "1000 Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Arabic and English. |
Watermark: |
Portrait of Maimonides. |
Security thread: |
In the middle of the note. |
Look-through: |
A triangle on the front merges with a triangle on the back to form a Star of David when held against the light. |
Sign for the blind: |
A triangle in the lower right-hand corner of the front. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank Moshe Mandelbaum; Chairman of the Advisory Council Avraham Shapira. |
Design: |
Zvi Narkiss, assisted by Arie Glazer. |
Year: |
1983. |
Date of issue: |
November 17, 1983. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
September 4, 1986. |
Size: |
138 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Blue. |
Front: |
Portrait of Levi Eshkol; a panorama of united Jerusalem; the denomination "Five Thousand Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Pipe carrying water, symbolizing Eshkol's enterprise, against a background of meadow and barren land: the denomination "5000 Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Arabic and English. |
Watermark: |
Portrait of Levi Eshkol. |
Security thread: |
In the middle of the note. |
Look-through: |
A geometric pattern on the front merges with a pattern on the back to form a Star of David when held against the light. |
Sign for the blind: |
A square in the upper right-hand corner of the front. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank Moshe Mandelbaum; Chairman of the Advisory Council Avraham Shapira. |
Design: |
Jacob Zim. |
Year: |
1984. |
Date of issue: |
August 9, 1984. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
September 4, 1986. |


Size: |
138 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Orange. |
Front: |
Portrait of Golda Meir; a stylized tree with intertwining branches against a background of seven-branched candelabra and the words "Let my people go" in microprint; the denomination "Ten Thousand Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Picture of Golda Meir among a gathering of Russian Jews in front of the Moscow synagogue; the words "Let my people go" in the background in large and tiny letters; the denomination "10000 Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Arabic and English. |
Watermark: |
Portrait of Golda Meir. |
Security thread: |
In the middle of the note. |
Look-through: |
A four-branched candelabrum on the front merges with a three-branched candelabrum on the back to form a seven-branched candelabrum when held against the light. |
Sign for the blind: |
A rhombus in the upper right-hand corner of the front. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank Moshe Mandelbaum; Chairman of the Advisory Council Avraham Shapira. |
Design: |
Asher Kalderon. |
Year: |
1984. |
Date of issue: |
November 27, 1984. |
Ceased to be legal tender: |
September 4, 1986. |
First Series of the New Sheqel
On September 4, 1985 the new sheqel, equal to 1,000 old sheqalim, became the currency of Israel. The dropping of three zeros from the old sheqel denominations was intended to simplify money calculations and to facilitate cash payments and financial recording. The name "sheqel" was retained so as not to deviate from the original intention of the legislator as embodied in the Sheqel Currency Law, 5729-1969, viz., to preserve the ancient name of Israel's coinage.
The first series included a new denomination - NIS 50. Later on a NIS 100 banknote was introduced, and in 1986, for the first time since the establishment of the state, an intermediate denomination (NIS 20) was issued.
The new sheqel series continues the trend of perpetuating the memory of prominent personages in Jewish history. The colours and other characteristics of the first banknotes are similar to those of the old sheqel series. The NIS 20, NIS 50, NIS 100 and NIS 200 notes were printed in distinct colours different from the previous ones in order to facilitate their identification by the public.
Size: |
138 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Green. |
Front: |
Portrait of Maimonides (Rambam); a passage from his manuscript of the "Mishneh Tora" (code of Jewish law); the denomination "One New Sheqel" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Stylized view of Tiberias where Maimonides is buried; an ancient candelabrum; the denomination "1 New Sheqel" and "Bank of Israel" in Arabic and English. |
Watermark: |
Portrait of Maimonides. |
Security thread: |
In the middle of the note. |
Look-through: |
A triangle on the front merges with a triangle on the back to form a Star of David when held against the light. |
Sign for the blind: |
A triangle in the lower right-hand corner of the front. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank Moshe Mandelbaurn; Chairman of the Advisory Council Avraham Shapira. |
Design: |
Zvi Narkiss assisted by Arie Glazer. |
Year: |
1986. |
Date of issue: |
May 8, 1986. |
Size: |
138 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Blue. |
Front: |
Portrait of Levi Eshkol; a panorama of united Jerusalem; the denomination "Five New Sheqallm" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Pipe carrying water, symbolizing Eshkol's enterprise, against a background of meadow and barren land; the denomination "5 New Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Arabic and English. |
Watermark: |
Portrait of Levi Eshkol. |
Security thread: |
In the centre of the note. |
Look-through: |
A geometric pattern on the front merges with a pattern on the back to form a Star of David when held against the light. |
Sign for the blind: |
A square in the upper right-hand corner of the front. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank: in series A, Moshe Mandelbaum, in series B, Michael Bruno; Chairman of the Advisory Council: in series A, Avraham Shapira, in series B, Shlomo Lorincz. |
Design: |
Jacob Zim. |
Year: |
1985. |
Date of issue: |
September 4, 1985. |


Size: |
138 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Orange. |
Front: |
Portrait of Golda Meir; a stylized tree with intertwining branches against a background of seven-branched candelabra and the words "Let my people go" in microprint; the denomination "Ten New Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Picture of Golda Meir among a gathering of Russian Jews in front of the Moscow synagogue; the words "Let my people go" in the background in large and tiny letters; the denomination "10 New Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Arabic and English. |
Watermark: |
Portrait of Golda Meir. |
Security thread: |
In the middle of the note. |
Look-through: |
A four-branched candelabrum on the front merges with a three-branched candelabrum on the back to form a seven-branched candelabrum when held against the light. |
Sign for the blind: |
A rhombus in the upper right-hand corner of the front. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank: in series A, Moshe Mandelbaum, in series B, Michael Bruno; Chairman of the Advisory Council: in series A, Avraham Shapira, in series B, Shlomo Lorincz. |
Design: |
Asher Kalderon. |
Year: |
1985. |
Date of issue: |
September 4, 1985. |


Size: |
138 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Dark-grey. |
Front: |
Portrait of Moshe Sharett; below, in a line legible under a magnifying glass, the titles of his seven books; the ceremony of the unfurling of the Israeli flag by Sharett at the U.N. building in 1949; the denomination "Twenty New Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
Original building of the Herzlia high school where Sharett studied; a background of Little Tel Aviv; the denomination "20 New Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Arabic and English. |
Watermark: |
Portrait of Moshe Sharett. |
Security thread: |
In the middle of the note. |
Look-through: |
Six small triangles on the front merge with two rhombi and two triangles on the back to form a Star of David when held against the light. |
Sign for the blind: |
A tilted square within a square in the upper right-hand corner of the front. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank Michael Bruno; Chairman of the Advisory Council Shlomo Lorincz. |
Design: |
Zvi Narkiss assisted by Arie Glazer. |
Year: |
1987. |
Date of issue: |
April 2, 1988. |
Size: |
138 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Purple. |
Front: |
Portrait of S.Y. Agnon; the denomination "Fifty New Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
A skyline of Jerusalem and a Jewish townlet in Eastern Europe; titles of 18 books by Agnon in microprint; the denomination "50 New Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Arabic and English. |
Watermark: |
Portrait of S.Y. Agnon. |
Security thread: |
In the middle of the note. |
Look-through: |
A three-sided pattern on the front merges with another on the back to form a Star of David when held against the light. |
Sign for the blind: |
A pentagon in the upper right-hand corner of the front. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank Moshe Mandelbaurn; Chairman of the Advisory Council Avraham Shapira. |
Design: |
Eliezer Weishoff. |
Year: |
1985. |
Date of issue: |
September 4, 1985. |


Size: |
138 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Brown. |
Front: |
Portrait of Itzhak Ben-Zvi; to the right, In nine lines legible under a magnifying glass, the titles of his nine books; a background depicting a group of people representing different ethnic communities in Israel: the denomination "One Hundred New Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
A view of Peki'in village, researched by Ben-Zvi, including the synagogue, a carob tree and a cave; an ancient stone candelabrum, the denomination "100 New Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Arabic and English. |
Watermark: |
Portrait of Itzhak Ben-Zvi. |
Security thread: |
In the middle of the note. |
Look-through: |
A triangle on the front merges with a triangle on the back to form a Star of David when held against the light. |
Sign for the blind: |
A half-circle in the upper right-hand corner on the front. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black on the lower part of the note and green on the upper part. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank Moshe Mandelbaum. |
Design: |
Zvi Narkiss. |
Year: |
1986. |
Date of issue: |
August 19, 1986. |


Size: |
138 X 76 mm. |
Dominant colour: |
Orange. |
Front: |
Portrait of Zalman Shazar, third president of Israel; Candelabrum formed from DNA molecule, as a symbol to the progress of science; In the background - the poem "compulsory education law" written by Natan Alterman in 1949; the denomination "Two Hundred New Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew. |
Back: |
A girl leaning over a table; Hebrew letters; the denomination "Two Hundred New Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel" in Arabic and English. |
Watermark: |
Portrait of Zalman Shazar. |
Security thread: |
In the middle of the note. |
Look-through: |
Eight triangles on the front merge with four triangles on the back to form a Star of David when held against the light. |
Sign for the blind: |
An identical geometric form on the front and the back. |
Colour of numbering: |
Black on the lower part of the note and red on the upper part. |
Signatures: |
Governor of the Bank Prof. Michael Bruno and Chairman of the Advisory Council Shlomo Lorincz. |
Design: |
front: Moshe Pereg; back: Dror Ben-Dov. |
Year: |
1991. |
Date of issue: |
February 16, 1992. |