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Israel gained its independence on May 14, 1948. Egyptian Pounds (EGP) were used for currency in Israel from 1918 until November 1, 1927, when the Palestine Pound (PSP) was created at par with the British Pound Sterling (GBP). Palestine used a currency board to back the currency. The Israeli Pound (ILP) replaced the Palestine Pound at par on August 16, 1948. The Pound was divisible into 1000 Mils from August 17, 1948 to December 24, 1948, into 1000 Put out from December 24, 1948 until December 31, 1959 and into 100 Agorot from January 1, 1960 to February 24, 1980.

The Israeli Sheqel (ILL) replaced the Pound on February 22, 1980 at the rate of 1 Pound equal to 10 Sheqels. The Sheqel was divisible into 100 Agorot. Inflation during the 1980s led to the introduction of a New Sheqel (ILS) at the rate of 1 New Sheqel equal to 1000 Old Sheqels. The Sheqel is divided into 100 Agorot and 1000 Sheqalim. Banknotes were issued by the Anglo-Palestine Bank from 1948 until June 1952, by the Bank Leumi Le-Israel from June 1952 until December 1, 1954, and by the Bank of Israel beginning in 1954.

An excellent source for information about Israeli coinage from 1927 to present can be found at http://sheqel.info/.

Here is a 1 Agora coin dated JE5734 (1974). The obverse depicts oat sprigs with text to left and below. The reverse shows the denomination with text below.

• Weight: 1.0 g
• Diameter: 20 mm
• Material: Aluminum
• Edge: Smooth
• Mint: (j) or (o)
• Mintage: (j) Matte 8,080,000 (o) Prooflike 34,000,000
• Krause # KM-24.1

This is a 5 Agorot coin dated JE5736 (1976). The obverse depicts pomegranates with text below and to the left. The reverse shows the denomination with text below.

• Weight: 0.770 g
• Diameter: 17.5 mm
• Material: Aluminum
• Edge: Smooth
• Mint:
• Mintage: 13,156,000
• Krause # KM-25b

Here is a 10 Agorot coin dated JE5732 (1972). The obverse features a date palm with text to the left and below. The reverse shows the denomination with text below.

• Weight: 5.0 g
• Diameter: 21.5 mm
• Material: Aluminum-Bronze
• Edge: Smooth
• Mint:
• Mintage: 19,653,000
• Krause # KM-26

This is a 10 Agorot coin dated JE5738 (1978). The obverse depicts a date palm with text to the left and below. The reverse shows the denomination with text below.

• Weight: 1.610 g
• Diameter: 21.5 mm
• Material: Aluminum
• Edge: Smooth
• Mint: (j) or (o)
• Mintage: (j) Matte 24,050,000 (o) Prooflike 104,336,000
• Krause # KM-26b

Here is a 25 Agorot coin dated JE5738 (1978). The obverse features a three-string lyre with text to the left and below. The reverse depicts the denomination with text below.

• Weight: 6.50 g
• Diameter: 25.5 mm
• Material: Aluminum-Bronze
• Edge: Smooth
• Mint:
• Mintage: 12,200,000
• Krause # KM-27

Here is a 1/2 Lira coin dated Jewish Era (JE) 5736 (1976). The obverse shows a menorah flanked by sprigs with text at the bottom. The reverse shows the denomnation with text.

• Weight: 6.80 g
• Diameter: 24.5 mm
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge: Reeded
• Mint:
• Mintage: 4,959,000
• Krause # KM-36.1

Here is a 1 Lira coin dated JE5738 (1978). The obverse features some pomegranates with a menorah below and text around. The reverse shows the denomination with stars to either side all above text.

• Weight: 9.0 g
• Diameter: 27.5 mm
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge: Alternating reeded and smooth
• Mint:
• Mintage: 61,752,000
• Krause # KM-47.1

Here is a 5 Lirot coin dated JE5738 (1978). The obverse features a roaring lion with a menorah above and text below and to the left. The reverse depicts the denomination with stars to either side and text below.

• Weight:
• Diameter: 30 mm
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge: Smooth
• Mint:
• Mintage: 8,350,000
• Krause # KM-90

This is a 1 New Agora coinf rom JE5740 (1980). The obverse features a date palm with text below and to the left. The reverse shows the denomination with text below.

• Weight: 0.60 g
• Diameter: 15 mm
• Material: Aluminum
• Edge: Smooth
• Mint: (o)
• Mintage: 200,000,000 (Note: 110 million coins were reportedly melted down)
• Krause # KM-106

This is a 5 New Agorot coin dated JE5740 (1980). The obverser features a menorah with sprigs on either side with text around. The reverse shows the denomination with text below.

• Weight: 0.90 g
• Diameter: 18.5 mm
• Material: Aluminum
• Edge: Reeded
• Mint: (o)
• Mintage: 69,532,000
• Krause # KM-107

Here is a 10 New Agorot coin dated JE5741 (1981). The obverse shows some pomegranates with a menorah below and text around. The reverse depicts the denomination with text below.

• Weight: 2.110 g
• Diameter: 15.96 mm
• Material: Bronze
• Edge: Reeded
• Mint: (f), (p) or (j)
• Mintage: 241,100,000 ( Note: 123,000,000 were minted at (f); 90,000,000 at (p) and 28,160,000 at (j))
• Krause # KM-108

This is a 1/2 Sheqel coin dated JE5740 (1980). The obverse features a roaring lion, with a menorah above, and text to the bottom and left. The reverse shows the denomination with stars to either side and text below.

• Weight: 3.030 g
• Diameter: 19.96 mm
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge: Reeded
• Mint: (b)
• Mintage: 52,308,000
• Krause # KM-109

Here is a 1 Sheqel coin dated JE5741 (1981). The obverse shows the denomination with a menorah and text to the left and text below. The reverse features a chalice with text above.

• Weight: 5.0 g
• Diameter: 22.54 mm
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge: Alternating reeded and smooth
• Mint:
• Mintage: 154,540,000 (Note: 99,000,000 minted at (p); 389,970,000 minted at (j) and 15,570,000 minted at (b))
• Krause # KM-111

This is a 10 Sheqalim coin dated JE5745 (1985). The obverse features an ancient galley with a menorah above and text to either side. The reverse depicts the denomination with stars to either side, and text below.

• Weight: 8.0 g
• Diameter: 26 mm
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge: Rounded smooth
• Mint: (j) or (f)
• Mintage: 25,864,000 ( Note: 15,864,436 struck by (j) and 10,000,000 by (f))
• Krause # KM-119

This is a 50 Sheqalim coindated JE5745 (1984). The obverse features an ancient coin with a menorah to the left and text around. The reverse shows the denomination with star to either side and text below.

• Weight:
• Diameter: 28 mm
• Material: Aluminum-Bronze
• Edge: Rounded and reeded
• Mint:
• Mintage: 13,993,658
• Krause # KM-139

Here is a 100 Sheqalim coin (Hanuka edition) dated JE5745 (1984). The Hanuka edition coins are issued in Hanuka, which is in Dec, so the Hebrew year already advanced (in sept or oct) but the English one did not, so the Hebrew year of this coin is 5745 while the english is 1984.The obverse features a menorah within a rough, raised area showing a smaller menorah above and text to the left. The reverse shows the denomination with text both to the left and below.

• Weight: 10.820 g
• Diameter: 29 mm
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge: Studded
• Mint:
• Mintage: 2,000,000
• Krause # KM-143

This is a 100 Sheqalim coin dated JE5745 (1985). The obverse features a menorah within a rough, raised area showing a smaller menorah above and text to the left. The reverse shows the denomination with text both to the left and below.

• Weight: 10.820 g
• Diameter: 29 mm
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge: Studded and rounded
• Mint:
• Mintage: 19,638,000
• Krause # KM-143

This is a 1 Agora coin dated JE5748 (1988). The obverse depics an ancient ship with a menorah above and text below. The reverse shows the denomination within a lined square.

• Weight: 2.040 g
• Diameter: 17 mm.
• Material: Aluminum-Bronze
• Edge: Smooth
• Mint:
• Mintage: 15,768,000
• Krause # KM-156

Here is a 10 Agorot coin dated 1992. The obverse features a menorah within a rough, raised area showing a smaller menorah above and text to the left. The reverse shows the denomination within a lined square with text around.

• Weight: 4.0 g
• Diameter: 22 mm
• Material: Aluminum-Bronze
• Edge: Smooth
• Mint: (j)
• Mintage: 1,728,000
• Krause # 158

• Weight:
• Diameter:
• Material:
• Edge:
• Mint:
• Mintage:
• Krause # KM