The Bank of Israel is preparing for the launch of the NIS 20 and NIS 100 banknotes, the final banknotes to be issued from its latest Series C banknote family.
According to the Bank of Israel, the last two denominations of the new series are expected to be issued at the end of 2017.
Preparations are underway for their launch, with samples provided by the Central Bank to manufacturers, providers and operators of vending, counting and sorting machines to enable their calibration prior to the new banknotes being circulated.
The NIS 200 banknote
Image courtesy of the Bank of Israel.
The New 20 Sheqel paper banknote is predominantly red in colour. Illustrations of palm tree branches and a portrait of the poet Rachel Bluwstein is show on the front of the note, whilst the reverse contains a vista of the Sea of Galilee shoreline.
The poem “Kinneret” is written in micro text on the front of the note, and extracts from the poem “Perhaps it was nothing…” is shown on the reverse.
Kurz’s KINEGRAM VOLUME® foil stripe is included, as is a windowed colour changing security thread that includes the portrait illustration and the note’s denomination.
Other security features included a watermark, raised intaglio ink tactile features, micro holes in the shape of the denomination and optically variable colour changing ink.
The Central Bank has designed each note of the new series to be a different size to assist those with visual impairments to differentiate between the denominations. The NIS 20 is 129mm by 71mm. It also includes a symbol printed with transparent raised ink that is identified by touch.
The NIS 100 banknote
Image courtesy of the Bank of Israel.
The New 100 Sheqel paper banknote is predominantly orange in colour. Illustrations of almond tree blossoms and a portrait of another Hebrew poet, Leah Goldberg, is displayed on the front of the note. The reverse includes a group of gazelles in its design.
The poem “In the land of my love the almond tree blossoms” is written in micro text on the front of the note, and extracts from the poem “White days” is shown on the reverse.
Kurz’s KINEGRAM VOLUME® foil stripe is again included, as is a windowed colour changing security thread that includes the portrait illustration and the note’s denomination.
Other security features included a watermark, raised intaglio ink tactile features, micro holes in the shape of the denomination and optically variable colour changing ink.
The NIS 100 is 143mm by 71mm, and like the NIS 20, it also includes a unique symbol printed with transparent raised ink that is identified by touch.
Withdrawal of old banknote series
Israel’s Central Bank began issuing their new family of Sheqel banknotes in September 2014 with the release of the NIS 50 banknote. The NIS 200 note followed in December 2015.
Since their launch, almost 90% of the old NIS 50 banknotes in circulation have been replaced. Likewise, over half of the old series NIS 200 banknotes have been replaced with the new Series C denomination.
Launch of the new series
The Bank of Israel has advised that it will soon publish details regarding the launch date of the NIS 20 and NIS 100 banknotes, but that it will be by the end of 2017.
Related articles
Press release from the Bank of Israel
Israel issues new 200 shekels banknote
Bank of Israel to issue new NIS 50 banknote
