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The New Sheqel is Israel's currency, introduced in 1985 to replace the old Sheqel. It's divided into 100 Agorot, the smallest unit of currency.
The New Sheqel was introduced to combat high inflation, which had eroded the value of the old Sheqel. This move was a significant step towards stabilizing the Israeli economy.
One of the key features of the New Sheqel is its fixed exchange rate with the US Dollar, which has helped maintain its value. The New Sheqel is widely accepted in Israel and is used in all transactions, including cash, credit, and debit cards.
The New Sheqel is issued by the Bank of Israel, the country's central bank, which is responsible for maintaining its stability and value.
History of Israeli Currency
The Israeli currency has a fascinating history. The Israeli pound was the currency of Israel from June 1952 until it was replaced with the shekel on 24 February 1980.
The Israeli pound was pegged to sterling until 1 January 1954, and its sub-division was changed from 1,000 prutot to 100 agorot in 1960. The name "lira" was a loanword from Latin, which led to a debate in the 1960s about using a Hebrew name for the currency.
The Israeli government introduced the 'Israeli shekel' (now called old Israeli shekel) at a rate of IL10 = IS 1 in February 1980.
The Old Was Brief
The old shekel didn't last long, it was in circulation for only five years.
It was replaced with the new shekel to combat inflation, a common reason for currency changes.
The old shekel has been demonetized, meaning it's no longer accepted as payment anywhere in Israel.
It's now sold as a collectible for currency enthusiasts, but it's no longer a valid form of currency.
Old Israeli (1980–1985)
The old Israeli shekel was in circulation from 1980 to 1985. It had a unique symbol, a stylized Shin shape like a cradle, which appeared on checks issued by Israeli banks during that time.
This symbol was officially announced on March 18, 1980, marking a change from the previous lack of a special symbol for the Israeli currency. Quoting prices in new shekels started officially on January 1, 1986, and old shekel checks had to be stamped with the new shekel symbol over the old one.
The old shekel checks remaining unused had to be stamped with the new shekel symbol over the old symbol.
New Sheqel Details
The new shekel has been the currency of Israel since 1985. It's a result of the country's economic crisis in the 1980s and the introduction of more conservative fiscal and monetary policies.
The Bank of Israel and the government have maintained careful and conservative policies since then. This has led to a significant reduction in inflation and a positive balance of payments.
In 2003, the new shekel became a freely convertible currency. This means that it can be exchanged for other currencies without any restrictions.
The new shekel is also one of the few currencies that has its own futures contracts on the foreign exchange market. This is a result of its introduction on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in 2006.
Since 2008, the new shekel has been fully convertible, making it easily exchangeable in many parts of the world.
New Sheqel Features
The New Sheqel was introduced in 1986 as the official currency of Israel.
The coins are made of copper-aluminium-nickel, with a composition of 92% copper, 6% aluminium, and 2% nickel. They have a weight of 6.5 grams and a diameter of 26 mm.
The New Sheqel coins are standard circulation coins, issued by the State of Israel, and are used for everyday transactions.
Features
The issuer of the New Sheqel is Israel, and it's been in circulation since 1985.
The New Sheqel is a standard circulation coin, with various denominations available.
The years 5745-5777 (1985-2017) saw the production of these coins.
The New Sheqel uses a Hebrew calendar.
A ½ New Sheqel coin is worth approximately USD 0.14.
The composition of the New Sheqel is copper-aluminium-nickel (92% Copper, 6% Aluminium, 2% Nickel).
Here are the technical specifications of the New Sheqel:
These technical specifications make the New Sheqel a unique and interesting coin.
New Banknotes Feature Vibrant Colors and Poetry
The newest shekel banknotes are a sight to behold, featuring vibrant colors and poetry that make them truly unique. The current 20-shekel note is red.
Each denomination of banknote has its own special design, with the 50-shekel note being green and the 100-shekel note yellow. The 200-shekel note is blue.
The text of a different poem is micro-printed on each denomination of banknote, adding an extra layer of depth and interest to the design.
Signatures:
Signatures are a key part of any currency, and the New Sheqel is no exception. The signatures of the Governor of the Bank and the Chairman of the Advisory Council can change between series.
The first series, A, features Moshe Mandelbaum as the Governor of the Bank, and Avraham Shapira as the Chairman of the Advisory Council. In series B, Michael Bruno takes over as the Governor of the Bank, and Shlomo Lorincz becomes the Chairman of the Advisory Council.
Here's a breakdown of the signatures for each series:
The signatures are an important part of the currency's design, and they can provide valuable information about the series and the individuals involved.
Israeli Currency Evolution
The Israeli currency has undergone significant changes over the years, with the Israeli pound being replaced by the shekel in 1980. This marked a significant shift in the country's monetary system, with the shekel being pegged to the US dollar.
The original shekel, now known as the old shekel, was in circulation from 1980 to 1985 and experienced frequent devaluations against foreign currencies. This trend culminated in the old shekel experiencing hyperinflation in the early 1980s.
The old shekel was eventually replaced by the new shekel, which was introduced on January 1, 1986, at a rate of IS 1,000 to ₪1. This change brought about a more stable monetary system and reduced inflation.
Here's a brief overview of the Israeli currency evolution:
Israeli Pound (1952–1980)
The Israeli pound was the currency of Israel from June 1952 until it was replaced with the shekel in 1980.
It was pegged to sterling initially, but this was abandoned on 1 January 1954.
The Israeli pound was subdivided into 1,000 prutot, which was later changed to 100 agorot in 1960.
The currency was given the symbol "IL" and the Hebrew name "lira yisraelit" or simply "lira".
A debate emerged in the 1960s over the non-Hebrew origins of the name "lira", which is a loanword from Latin.
The name was eventually changed to "shekel" due to a law passed in response to this debate.
The Israeli government introduced the new Israeli shekel (now called old Israeli shekel) in February 1980, at a rate of IL10 = IS 1.
(1980-1985)
Between 1980 and 1985, the old Israeli shekel was the currency in use. It was introduced on 24 February 1980 and replaced the Israeli pound.
The old shekel experienced frequent devaluations against foreign currencies during the 1960s and 1970s, which culminated in hyperinflation in the early 1980s. This was a challenging time for the Israeli economy.
The old shekel had a unique symbol, which was officially announced on 18 March 1980. This stylized Shin symbol appeared on checks issued by Israeli banks between 1980 and 1985.
In 1985, the Israeli government implemented the Economic Stabilization Plan, which helped contain inflation. As a result, the new shekel was introduced on 1 January 1986, replacing the old shekel at a rate of IS 1,000 to ₪1.
Here's a quick rundown of the old shekel's lifespan:
- Introduced: 24 February 1980
- Replaced by new shekel: 1 January 1986
- Symbol: Officially announced on 18 March 1980
- Exchange rate: IS 1,000 = ₪1
Series A (1985-1999)
The Series A Israeli banknotes, introduced in 1985, featured a range of denominations including ₪1, ₪5, ₪10, ₪20, ₪50, ₪100, and ₪200 notes.
These notes were designed with unique features, such as the ₪1 note featuring Maimonides on the obverse and Tiberias where he is buried on the reverse.
The ₪5 note had a blue color and featured Levi Eshkol on the obverse, with a pipe carrying water and fields in the background.
The ₪10 note had an orange color and featured Golda Meir on the obverse, with a picture of her in the crowd in front of the Moscow Choral Synagogue.
The ₪20 note, introduced in 1988, had a dark gray color and featured Moshe Sharett on the obverse, with the original building of Herzliya Gymnasium in the background.
The ₪50 note had a purple color and featured Shmuel Yosef Agnon on the obverse, with a Jerusalem skyline and Eastern European shtetl in the background.
The ₪100 note, introduced in 1986, had a brown color and featured Yitzhak Ben-Zvi on the obverse, with Peki'in Synagogue and a carob tree in the background.
The ₪200 note, introduced in 1992, had a red color and featured Zalman Shazar on the obverse, with a girl writing at a desk and Hebrew block letters in the background.
Here's a summary of the Series A Israeli banknotes:
Israeli (1986–Present)
The Israeli new shekel, also known as NIS, was officially announced on 22 September 1985.
The first new shekel banknotes and coins were introduced in 1986, marking the beginning of this currency era. This was a significant milestone in Israel's currency evolution.
The shekel sign, like the dollar sign, is usually placed left of the number. However, since Hebrew is written from right to left, this means that the symbol is actually written after the number.
According to the Academy of the Hebrew Language, the sign should be written to the left of the number without a space between them. This is a subtle but important detail to keep in mind.
The shekel sign is not used as often when handwriting monetary amounts, unlike the dollar sign. This might be due to the symbol's unique characteristics and the way it's written in Hebrew.
Here are the key symbols related to the Israeli new shekel:
- Symbols introduced in 1980
- Symbols introduced in 1986
- Currency symbols
- Shekel
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you type ₪?
To type the shekel symbol ₪ on a PC, hold the ALT key and type 8362 on your numeric keypad. This method works in Microsoft Word and other applications that support ALT codes.
What is the difference between old and new shekels?
The new shekel replaced the old shekel at a 1000:1 ratio in 1986, effectively addressing hyper-inflation. This change marked a significant shift towards stability for the Israeli currency.
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