Description
The Israeli new sheqalim is the official currency of Israel since 1986 when it replaced the old shekel; the legal tender is also used in the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The official currency symbol; ₪. The name is derived from the Hebrew root (š-q-l), meaning “weigh”. After the economic crisis in the 1980s, the Bank of Israel, commanded by the Government of Israel, decided to remain under more efficient and cautious fiscal and monetary policies, which allowed the introduction of market economic reforms, achieving a more competitive Israeli economy. In 1985, a new series of coins was introduced in denominations of 1 agora, 5 agorot, 10 agorot, ₪1/2, ₪1, followed by ₪5 in 1990 and ₪2 in 2007.
The ½ Israeli new sheqel coin front design illustrates a Lyra that resembles the seal of Princess Ma’adana and the National Emblem (consist of a menorah surrounded by an olive branch and the writing Israel in the Hebrew language). The lettering is presented in the Hebrew, Arabic and English languages. The reverse coin design illustrates the denomination in the Hebrew and English language and the date in Hebrew. This coin is part of the 1985 – 2017 (5745 – 5777) series, its rim is plain, and its color is gold.
Text: Israel, ½ New Sheqel.