Second Series of the New Sheqel
On January 3, 1999, the second series of the New Israel Sheqel was put into circulation with the issuance of the new NIS 20 and the new NIS 100 banknotes. On October 31, 1999, the NIS 50 and the NIS 200 banknotes were issued.
The second series includes improved security features against forgery.
The new banknotes share similar design elements and all have uniform security features.
The personages on the second series of NIS notes are those who featured on the same denominations of the first NIS series.
The notes are designed vertically, and all denominations are uniform in size: 138 mm x 71 mm.
The second series was designed by Naomi Rosner and Meir Eshel.
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Dimensions138 X 71 mm.
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DesignerNaomi Rosner and Meir Eshel.
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Issue dateJanuary 3, 1999.
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Cancellation date
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ColorGreen
Front:
Portrait of Moshe Sharett; picture of the ceremony of the unfurling of the Israeli flag at the UN building on May 12, 1949; text from the speech given by Sharett on that occasion.
Latent image:
A triangle in the right corner.
Tactile aid for the blind:
Two vertical lines in intaglio ink at the top left of the banknote.
Denomination:
In the top right corner in numbers, in Hebrew and with the words "Bank of Israel"; and in the bottom left corner in metallic gold.
Watermark:
Portrait of Sharett and a small circle beneath it enclosing the initial of his surname (in Hebrew).
Security thread:
Threaded through the paper below the middle of the banknote.
Back:
Picture of Jewish Brigade volunteers during WWII and of a pre-State look-out tower; text from Sharett's radio address after his return from a visit to the Jewish Brigade in Italy.
Microtext:
To the right of the main text with titles of seven books written by Moshe Sharett.
Denomination:
In numbers with the words "New Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel"; in iridescent ink and in Arabic characters.
Optical Variable Ink:
A triangle composed of small squares, with the apex pointing to the right.
Transparency:
Small triangles printed on either side of the banknote. The two triangles form a precise Star of David.
Serial numbers:
Once in olive-green and once in black that reflects UV light.
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Dimensions138 X 71 mm
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DesignerNaomi Rosner and Meir Eshel.
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Issue dateApril 13, 2008.
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Cancellation date
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ColorGreen
Front:
Portrait of Moshe Sharett; picture of the ceremony of the unfurling of the Israeli flag at the UN building on May 12, 1949; text from the speech given by Sharett on that occasion.
Latent image:
A triangle in the right corner.
Denomination:
In the top right corner in numbers, in Hebrew and with the words "Bank of Israel"; and in the bottom left corner in metallic gold.
Transparent window:
Two Stars of David, partially overlapping. One is transparent, with the number 20 embossed in the center. The color of the other shifts from green to purple when the banknote is tilted.
Reflection:
The face of Moshe Sharett, reduced in size; the face is visible when holding the banknote up to the light.
Microperforation:
The number 20 is punched in micro holes, and is visible when holding the banknote up to the light.
Back:
Picture of Jewish Brigade volunteers during WWII and of a pre-State look-out tower; text from Sharett's radio address after his return from a visit to the Jewish Brigade in Italy.
Microtext:
To the right of the main text with titles of seven books written by Moshe Sharett.
Denomination:
In numbers with the words "New Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel"; in iridescent ink and in Arabic characters.
Optical Variable Ink:
A triangle composed of small squares, with the apex pointing to the right.
Serial numbers:
Once in olive-green and once in black that reflects UV light.
Polymer Note
As part of its efforts to upgrade the banknotes in circulation, on April 13, 2008 the Bank of Israel for the first time issued NIS 20 banknotes made of polymer. The banknote circulated in tandem with the banknotes made of paper. Polymer is a plastic-type material that has important advantages when used for banknotes. One of these is that the material is highly durable, which extends the life of the banknote.
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Dimensions138 X 71 mm.
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DesignerNaomi Rosner and Meir Eshel.
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Issue dateOctober 31, 1999.
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Cancellation date
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ColorViolet
Front:
Portrait of Shmuel Yosef Agnon; picture of Agnon's study and personal library. Text from the acceptance address given by Agnon when he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1966.
Latent image:
A triangle in the right corner.
Tactile aid for the blind:
Three vertical lines in intaglio ink at the top left of the banknote.
Denomination:
In the top right corner in numbers, in Hebrew and with the words "Bank of Israel"; and in the bottom left corner in metallic gold.
Watermark:
Portrait of Agnon and a small circle beneath it enclosing the initial of his surname (in Hebrew).
Security thread:
Threaded through the paper below the middle of the banknote.
Back:
Picture of Agnon's writing stand with his pen and reading glasses. Text lists the titles of sixteen of Agnon's books.
Microtext:
To the right of the main text with titles of seventeen of Agnon's books.
Denomination:
In numbers with the words "New Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel"; in iridescent ink and in Arabic characters.
Optical Variable Ink:
A triangle, composed of small squares, with the apex pointing to the right.
Transparency:
Small triangles printed on either side of the note. The two triangles form a precise Star of David.
Serial numbers:
Once in blue and once in black that reflects UV light.
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Dimensions138 X 71 mm.
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DesignerNaomi Rosner and Meir Eshel.
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Issue dateJanuary 3, 1999.
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Cancellation date
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ColorBrown
Front:
Portrait of Itzhak Ben-Zvi; picture of the interior of the wooden structure that served as the President's residence; text from the speech given by Ben-Zvi at the first assembly of the Yemenite community, held at his residence in 1953.
Latent image:
A triangle in the right corner.
Tactile aid for the blind:
One horizontal line in intaglio ink at the top left of the banknote.
Denomination:
In the top right corner in numbers, in Hebrew and with the words "Bank of Israel"; and in the bottom left corner in metallic gold.
Watermark:
Portrait of Ben-Zvi and a small circle beneath it enclosing the initial of his surname (in Hebrew).
Security thread:
Threaded through the paper below the middle of the banknote.
Back:
Picture of a synagogue in the Galilee village of Peki'in, and a view of Peki'in; text from Ben-Zvi's second term inauguration speech.
Microtext:
To the right of the main text with titles of nine books written by Ben-Zvi.
Denomination:
In numbers with the words "New Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel"; in iridescent ink and in Arabic characters.
Optical Variable Ink:
A triangle composed of small squares, with the apex pointing to the right.
Transparency:
Small triangles printed on either side of the banknote. The two triangles form a precise Star of David.
Serial numbers:
Once in orange and once in black that reflects UV light.
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Dimensions138 X 71 mm.
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DesignerNaomi Rosner and Meir Eshel.
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Issue dateOctober 31, 1999.
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Cancellation date
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ColorRed
Front:
Portrait of Zalman Shazar; picture of students in an elementary school class. Text from Shazar's address to the Knesset on July 13, 1949, after the Compulsory Education Law was passed.
Latent image:
A triangle in the right corner.
Tactile aid for the blind:
Two horizontal lines in intaglio ink at the top left of the banknote.
Denomination:
In the top right corner in numbers, in Hebrew and with the words "Bank of Israel"; and in the bottom left corner in metallic gold.
Watermark:
Portrait of Shazar and a small circle beneath it enclosing the initial of his surname (in Hebrew).
Security thread:
Threaded through the paper below the middle of the banknote.
Back:
Picture of a typical alley in the town of Safed - a spiritual center of Kabbalists. Text taken from Shazar's essay, Tzofayih Tzefat (Thy Watchers, O Safed), first published in 1950.
Microtext:
To the right of the main text with titles of fifteen of Zalman Shazar's works.
Denomination:
In numbers with the words "New Sheqalim" and "Bank of Israel"; in iridescent ink and in Arabic characters.
Optical Variable Ink:
A triangle, composed of small squares, with the apex pointing to the right.
Transparency:
Small triangles printed on either side of the banknote. The two triangles form a precise Star of David.
Serial numbers:
Once in violet and once in black that reflects UV light.