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Agora and Pound Series

After the government decided to change the division of the Israel pound from 1,000 prutot to 100 agorot, the new coins were put into circulation starting January 1, 1960.

The name "agora" was taken from 1 Sam. 2:36.

Later on coins were issued in place of Israeli pound banknotes that had been withdrawn from circulation: the IL 1/2 and IL 1 coins in 1963, a different series of IL 1 coins in 1967, and the IL 5 coin in 1978. ​

  • Diameter
    20 mm.
  • Weight
    1.03 gr.
  • Rim
    Scalloped
  • Alloy
    Aluminium 97%, magnesium 3%.
  • Designer
  • Issue date
    May 12, 1960.
  • Reverse
    The denomination "1 Agora" and the date in Hebrew.
  • Obverse
    Three ears of barley; "Israel" in Hebrew and Arabic.
  • Diameter
    17.5 mm.
  • Weight
    2.3 gr.
  • Rim
    Smooth
  • Alloy
    Copper 92%, aluminium 6%, nickel 2%.
  • Designer
    Obverse: Rothschild and Lippman. Reverse: Shamir Brothers
  • Issue date
    October 20, 1960.
  • Reverse
    The denomination "5 Agorot" and the date in Hebrew.
  • Obverse
    Three ripe pomegranates; "Israel" in Hebrew and Arabic.
  • Diameter
    21.5 mm.
  • Weight
    5 gr.
  • Rim
    Smooth
  • Alloy
    Copper 92%, aluminium 6%, nickel 2%
  • Designer
    Obverse: Rothschild and Lippman. Reverse: Shamir Brothers.​
  • Issue date
    May 6, 1960
  • Reverse
    The denomination "10 Agorot" and the date in Hebrew.
  • Obverse
    Palm tree; "Israel" in Hebrew and Arabic.
  • Diameter
    25.5 mm.
  • Weight
    6.5 gr.
  • Rim
    Smooth
  • Alloy
    Copper 92%, aluminium 6%, nickel 2%.
  • Designer
    Obverse: Rothschild and Lippman. Reverse: Shamir Brothers.
  • Issue date
    May 17, 1960
  • Reverse
    The denomination "25 Agorot" and the date in Hebrew.
  • Obverse
    Three-stringed lyre; "Israel" in Hebrew and Arabic.
  • Diameter
    24.5 mm.
  • Weight
    6.8 gr.
  • Rim
    Milled
  • Alloy
    Aluminium 97%, magnesium 3%.Copper 75%, nickel 25%.
  • Designer
    Obverse: Rothschild and Lippman. Reverse: Shamir Brothers.​
  • Issue date
    September 12, 1963
  • Reverse
    The denomination "1/2 Israeli Pound" and the date in Hebrew.
  • Obverse
    Relief of the Arch of Titus.
  • Diameter
    27.5 mm.
  • Weight
    9 gr.
  • Rim
    Milled
  • Alloy
    Copper 75%, nickel 25%.
  • Designer
    Obverse: Rothschild and Lippman. Reverse: Shamir brothers.​
  • Issue date
    September 12, 1963.
  • Reverse
    The denomination "1 Israeli Pound" and the date in Hebrew.
  • Obverse
    Relief of the Arch of Titus.
  • Diameter
    27.5 mm.
  • Weight
    9 gr.
  • Rim
    Alternatingly milled and smooth
  • Alloy
    Copper 75%, nickel 25%.
  • Designer
    Obverse: Rothschild and Lippman. Reverse: Zvi Narkiss.​
  • Issue date
    mid-September, 1967.
  • Reverse
    Coin minted during the war of the Jews against Rome (66 - 70 C.E.).
  • Obverse
    Three pomegranates; the emblem of the State of Israel; "Israel" in Hebrew, Arabic and English.
  • Diameter
    30 mm.
  • Weight
    11.2 gr.
  • Rim
    Smooth
  • Alloy
    Copper 75%, nickel 25%.
  • Designer
    Nathan Karp.​
  • Issue date
    September 21, 1978.
  • Reverse
    An ancient Hebrew seal found at Megiddo.
  • Obverse
    Roaring lion; the emblem of the State of Israel; "Israel" in Hebrew, Arabic and English.
This page was last updated on: 15/12/2022