February 27, 2018, Updated April 22, 2020
A vintage shekel note. Photo via Shutterstock.com
The lira is replaced by the shekel (1 shekel = 10 lirot) as Israel’s national currency. The word “shekel” derives from a biblical unit of weight of approximately one ounce (12 grams). The “new Israeli shekel” (NIS) introduced on January 1, 1986, is still in use, available in coin and banknote forms.
Fighting for Israel's truth
We cover what makes life in Israel so special — it's people. A non-profit organization, ISRAEL21c's team of journalists are committed to telling stories that humanize Israelis and show their positive impact on our world. You can bring these stories to life by making a donation of $6/month.
