Banknotes and Coins

The Bank of Israel holds the sole legal authority to issue currency, meaning legal tender (banknotes, coins, commemorative coins, and special coins) in Israel. The Currency Department’s functions include the issuance of currency and the regulation and direction of the currency system, ensuring the orderly supply of cash to the economy in accordance with demand and supply.

Agora and New Sheqel Series

On September 4, 1985 the sheqel was replaced by the new sheqel, which is equal to 1,000 old sheqalim. A series of new denomination coins was put into circulation together with the new banknotes of the first series.

The three smallest denomination coins of the new series have the same obverse as their counterparts in the previous series, while new designs where used for the two higher denominations. The reverse of the coins was designed by Gabi Neuman, who prepared them in secrecy.

In most cases, the models were produced by mints overseas. ​

  • Diameter
    Ring: 23 mm. Center: 16 mm
  • Weight
    7 gr.​
  • Rim
    ​Reeded
  • Alloy
    Ring: Nickel Bonded Steel. Center: Aureate Bonded Bronze.​
  • Issue date
    February 7, 1995.
  • Designer
    Reuven Nutels
  • Reverse
    The denomination "10 New Sheqalim" and "Israel" in Hebrew, Arabic and English; the date in Hebrew; branch with dates, vertical lines.​
  • Obverse
    Palm tree with seven leaves and two baskets with dates; the emblem of the State of Israel; the words "for the redemption of Zion" in ancient and modern Hebrew; vertical lines.​

Obverse: An image of Golda Meir.

All other details :​unchanged.

Design:​ Gabi Neumann.​

Year:​ 1995

Date of issue: June 27, 1995.​

Value of banknotes in circulation

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Value of coins in circulation

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Legislation & Regulation

Planning of banknotes, coins and commemorative coins

The currency system in Israel

Private ATMs

Private automatic cash withdrawal machines are operated by nonbank entities and are loaded with cash that is provided by a banking corporation.  The public is able to withdraw authentic high-quality banknotes from such machines, and can also withdraw cash from various merchants, provided from their cash registers.

Retailers and merchants

Most cash deposits are made by merchants who maintain their business with the banking corporation.

The public

The general public can deposit cash at any time using ATMs that enable deposits.

Bank branches

Large merchants are able to use a direct deposit channel from their premises to a cash center, through a courier company.  All cash deposited at a cash center is counted using machines approved by the Bank of Israel.  Following the counting, the cash determined to be "usable" is recycled to the public, and the rest is deposited with the Bank of Israel to be removed from circulation in order to ensure the quality of the cash in circulation.

Currency service machines, such as ATMs

Banking machines to provide currency services such as cash withdrawals and deposits.

Cash centers

Banking corporations make cash withdrawals from the Bank of Israel through their logistics centers, which are called cash centers.  The cash centers provide cash to the banking corporation branches, ATMs, and banking corporation customers.

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Commemorative Coins

Issuance of commemorative coins: As the exclusive issuer of legal tender in Israel, the Bank also issues commemorative coins each year and to mark special occasions. The Governor determines the form of the commemorative coins and special coins with the approval of the Supervisory Council and the Government (as noted in Section 43 of the Law).

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Application Form for Approval to Market Commemorative Coins
Application Form
Commemorative Coins

Search commemorative coins

Issuance of commemorative coins: As the exclusive issuer of legal tender in Israel, the Bank also issues commemorative coins, each year and to mark special occasions as well. The Governor determines the form of the commemorative coins and special coins with the approval of the Supervisory Council and the Government (as noted in Section 43 of the Law). To that end, the Governor is assisted by the Committee for the Planning of Banknotes, Coins, and Commemorative Coins. The coins are made of silver or gold, and marketed to the public and to collectors in Israel and abroad through a marketing company.

In accordance with Section 43(a) of the Bank of Israel Law, 5770-2010, the marketing of commemorative coins, special coins, and other numismatic items issued by the Bank of Israel (hereinafter, “the coins”) shall be given to a company appointed by the Minister of Finance, with the consent of the Governor.

According to the provisions of low, Minister of Finance Moshe Kahlon, with the consent of the Governor Dr. Karnit Flug, appointed the Israel Coins and Medals Corporation Ltd. (corp. ID #510298573), together with the G.R.A.S. Designs and Combinations Ltd. (corp. ID #511567059) as a nonexclusive marketers of commemorative coins, special coins, and numismatic items issued by the Bank of Israel, that are legal tender in Israel.​

If you would like to be appointed as a marketer of commemorative coins, you must fill in and submit the request forms available at the following link​

Application Form for (Non-Exclusive) Approval to Market Commemorative Coins

With the submission of this form, including its appendices, the submitter (hereinafter, the applicant) declares its agreement with all the marketing approval terms and all other provisions of the application documents, including all the terms of the framework agreement (including its appendices) and the considerations taken into account when approving the request by the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Israel and affirms that it has no reservations regarding them. The applicant declares that should its application be accepted and approved as noted above, it undertakes to act in accordance with the application documents and the framework agreement (including its appendices) and the attached as Part B, signed by the applicant and attached to the application documents. The applicant declares that it is known to it that in accordance with the provisions of the Bank of Israel Law, 5770-2010, the marketing of the coins is dependent on receipt of the approval of the Minister of Finance and the consent of the Governor, and this is over and above the applicant’s complying with the requirements of this form, including its appendices.​

This page was last updated on: 22/07/2024