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{{Short description|Currency of Israel between 1952 and 1980}}
{{Infobox currency
| name = Israeli pound
| local_name = לירה ישראלית
| local_name_lang = he
| local_name2 = جنيه إسرائيلي
| local_name_lang2 = ar
| local_name3 = Livre israélienne
| local_name_lang3 = fr
| image_1 = Israel 500Lirot 1975 Obverse & Reverse.jpg
| image_title_1 = IL&nbsp;500 note (obverse and reverse) issued in 1975
| iso_code = ILP
| issuing_authority = [[Bank Leumi]] (1952–1955)<br/>[[Bank of Israel]] (1955–1980)
| date_of_introduction = 9 June 1952
| using_countries = {{ISR}} (1952–1980)
| inflation_title = 
| inflation_rate = 
| inflation_source_date = 
| inflation_method = 
| pegged_with = £1&nbsp;[[Pound sterling|stg]] at par (1952–1954)
| subunit_ratio_1 = {{frac|1|1000}}
| subunit_ratio_2 = {{frac|1|100}}
| subunit_name_1 = [[Mill (currency)#Mandatory Palestine, Israel, Jordan|mil]] (1951–1952)<br/> [[Israeli pruta|pruta]] (1952–1960)
| subunit_name_2 = [[Israeli agora|agora]] (1960–1980)
| symbol = {{Script/Hebrew|ל"י}}
| symbol_comment = (Hebrew), IL (Latin)
| plural = pounds ({{Script/Hebrew|לירות}} ''lirot'')
| plural_subunit_1 = prutot ({{Script/Hebrew|פרוטות}})
| plural_subunit_2 = agorot ({{Script/Hebrew|אגורות}})
| used_coins = 1, 5, 10, 25 agorot, IL&nbsp;{{1/2}}, IL&nbsp;1, IL&nbsp;5
| used_banknotes = IL&nbsp;5, IL&nbsp;10, IL&nbsp;50, IL&nbsp;100, IL&nbsp;500
| obsolete = yes
| footnotes = 
| date_of_withdrawal = 23 February 1980
| replaced_by_currency = [[Old Israeli shekel|First shekel]]
}}[[File:Israeli Passbook 1952-1953.jpg|thumb|A [[passbook]] issued before the official adoption of [[Israeli pruta|prutot]], and denominated in pounds and [[Mill (currency)#Mandatory Palestine, Israel, Jordan|mils]]]]

The '''pound''' or '''lira''' ({{langx|he|לירה ישראלית}} ''Lira Yisra'elit'', {{langx|ar|جنيه إسرائيلي}} ''Junayh ʾIsrāʾīlī''; abbreviation: '''IL'''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://main.knesset.gov.il/EN/about/history/documents/kns2_bank_eng.pdf  | title=Bank of Israel Law, 5714–1954* | date=3 September 1954 }}</ref> in [[Latin alphabet|Latin]], '''ל"י''' in [[Hebrew script|Hebrew]]; code {{ISO 4217|ILP}}) was the [[currency]] of the [[Israel|State of Israel]] from 9 June 1952 until 23 February 1980. The Israeli pound replaced the [[Palestine pound]] and was initially pegged at par to £1&nbsp;[[pound sterling|sterling]]. It was replaced by the [[Old Israeli shekel|shekel]] on 24 February 1980, at the rate of IS&nbsp;1 = IL&nbsp;10, which was in turn replaced by the [[Israeli new shekel|new shekel]] in 1985.

Before the new currency was brought in, the [[Anglo-Palestine Bank]] issued banknotes denominated in Palestine pounds. They were in Hebrew {{Script/Hebrew|לירה א״י}} (''lira E.Y.'' i.e. ''lira [[Eretz-Yisrael]]it'') and [[Arabic language|Arabic]] ''junayh filisṭīnī'' ({{lang|ar|جنيه فلسطيني}}).<ref>{{citation|publisher=Bank of Israel |place=IL |title=One Palestine Pound |url=http://www.bankisrael.gov.il/catal/eng/bill_all_eng.htm?series_num=1&series_name=Anglo%20Palestine%20Bank%20Series&pg_name=p002&pg_kot=ONE%20PALESTINE%20POUND |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427085208/http://www.bankisrael.gov.il/catal/eng/bill_all_eng.htm?series_num=1&series_name=Anglo%20Palestine%20Bank%20Series&pg_name=p002&pg_kot=ONE%20PALESTINE%20POUND |archivedate=April 27, 2006 }}</ref>

On 1 May 1951, all the assets and liabilities of the Anglo Palestine Bank were transferred to a new company called [[Bank Leumi]] Le-Yisrael (Israel National Bank) and the currency name became: ''lira yisraelit'' ({{Script/Hebrew|לירה ישראלית}}) in Hebrew, ''junayh ʾisrāʾīlī'' in Arabic, and Israeli pound in English.<ref>{{citation|publisher=Bank of Israel |place=IL |title=One Israeli Pound |url=http://www.bankisrael.gov.il/catal/eng/bill_all_eng.htm?series_num=2&series_name=Bank%20Leumi%20Le-Israel%20Series&pg_name=p007&pg_kot=ONE%20ISRAELI%20POUND |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927000546/http://www.bankisrael.gov.il/catal/eng/bill_all_eng.htm?series_num=2&series_name=Bank%20Leumi%20Le-Israel%20Series&pg_name=p007&pg_kot=ONE%20ISRAELI%20POUND |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-09-27 }}</ref> The new currency was issued in 1952, and entered circulation on June 9. From 1955, after the [[Bank of Israel]] was established and took over the duty of issuing [[banknote]]s, only the Hebrew name was used.<ref>{{citation|publisher=Bank Le-Israel |place=IL |title=First Series of the Pound |url=http://www.bankisrael.gov.il/catal/eng/bill_all_eng.htm?series_num=4&series_name=First%20Series%20of%20the%20Pound&pg_name=p012&pg_kot=ONE%20ISRAELI%20POUND |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927002117/http://www.bankisrael.gov.il/catal/eng/bill_all_eng.htm?series_num=4&series_name=First%20Series%20of%20the%20Pound&pg_name=p012&pg_kot=ONE%20ISRAELI%20POUND |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-09-27 }}</ref>

==History==
{{see also|Pound (currency)}}
The [[Mandate for Palestine|British Mandate of Palestine]] was created in 1918. In 1927 the Palestine Currency Board, established by the British authorities, and subject to the British [[Secretary of State for the Colonies]], issued the [[Palestine pound]] (£P) which was legal tender in Mandate Palestine and Transjordan. £P1 was fixed at exactly £1&nbsp;[[pound sterling|sterling]]. It was divided into 1,000 ''mils''.

The Mandate came to an end on 14 May 1948, but the Palestine pound continued in circulation until new currencies replaced it. In Israel, the Palestine pound continued in circulation until the Israeli pound was adopted in 1952. The Israeli pound was subdivided into 1,000 [[Israeli pruta|prutot]]. The Israeli pound retained the Palestine pound's sterling peg. In August 1948, new banknotes were issued by the London-based [[Anglo-Palestine Bank]], owned by the [[Jewish Agency]].

The new coins were the first to bear the new state's name, and the banknotes had "The Anglo-Palestine Bank Limited" written on them. While the first coins minted by Israel were still denominated in "mils", the next ones bore the [[Hebrew]] name ''[[prutah]]'' ({{langx|he|פרוטה}}). A second series of banknotes was issued after the Anglo-Palestine Bank moved its headquarters to [[Tel Aviv]] and became the [[Bank Leumi]] ({{langx|he|בנק לאומי}} "National Bank"). The peg to sterling was abolished on 1 January 1954, and in 1960, the subdivision of the pound was changed from 1,000 prutot to 100 ''[[Israeli agora|agorot]]'' (singular ''agora'', {{langx|he|אגורה ,אגורות}}).

Because ''lira'' ({{langx|he|לִירָה}}) was a loanword from [[Latin language|Latin]], a debate emerged in the 1960s over the name of the Israeli currency due to its non-Hebrew origins. This resulted in a law ordering the Minister of Finance to change the name from ''lira'' to the Hebrew name ''[[shekel]]'' ({{langx|he|שקל}}). The law allowed the minister to decide on the date for the change. The law came into effect in February 1980, when the Israeli government introduced the 'Israeli shekel' (now called [[old Israeli shekel]]), at a rate of IL&nbsp;10 = IS&nbsp;1. On 1 January 1986, the old shekel was replaced by the [[Israeli new shekel]] at a ratio of IS{{nbsp}}1,000{{nbsp}}:{{nbsp}}[[₪]]1.

==Coins==
Israel's first coins were aluminium 25 mil pieces, dated 1948 and 1949, which were issued in 1949 before the adoption of the pruta. Later in 1949, coins were issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 250 [[Israeli pruta|prutah]]. The coins were conceived, in part, by Israeli graphic designer [[Otte Wallish]].

All coins and banknotes issued in Israel before June 1952 were part of the [[Palestine pound]].

In 1960, coins were issued denominated in agora. There were 1, 5, 10 and 25 agorot pieces. In 1963, IL&nbsp;{{1/2}} and IL&nbsp;1 coins were introduced, followed by IL&nbsp;5 coins in 1978.

The IL&nbsp;5 denomination had previously been used for [[Non-circulating legal tender|non-circulating commemorative coins]], including silver coins with a [[Hanukkah]] theme.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/11/05/archives/israel-series-marks-25th-anniversary.html |title=Israel Series Marks 25th Anniversary |author=Thomas V. Haney |work=New York Times |date=November 5, 1972 |access-date=January 8, 2024}}</ref>

=== Mil (1949) ===
{| class="wikitable" align="center" style="font-size: 90%"
|+<big></big>
! width="25%" |'''Image'''
! width="6%" |'''Value'''
! width="6%" |'''Diameter (mm)'''
! width="8.5%" |'''Mass (g)'''
!'''Composition'''
! width="41.4%" |Obverse
!'''Reverse'''
! width="7.1%" |Date of issue
! width="6%" |Date of '''withdrawal'''
|-
| align="center" |[[File:25 mil coin – the State of Israel's first coin.png|border|250px]]

! 25 [[Mill (currency)#Mandatory Palestine, Israel, Jordan|mils]]
| align="center" | 30
| align="center" | 3.1—3.8
|[[aluminium]] 97%, magnesium 3%
|[[Grape]], "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
|Value, [[olive]] ornament
| align="center" | 06.04.1949
| align="center" | 06.09.1950
|}

=== Pruta (1949–1960) ===
{| class="wikitable" align="center" style="font-size: 90%"
|+<big></big>
! width="25%" |'''Image'''
! width="6%" |Value
! width="6%" |'''Diameter (mm)'''
! width="8.5%" |'''Mass (g)'''
!'''Composition'''
! width="41.4%" |Obverse
!'''Reverse'''
! width="7.1%" |Date of issue
! width="6%" |Date of '''withdrawal'''
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Israel 1 Prutah 1950 Obverse & Reverse.gif|frameless]]
!1 pruta
| align="center" |21
| align="center" |1.3
|[[aluminium]] 97%, magnesium 3%
|[[Anchor]], "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
| rowspan="11" |Value, olive ornament
| align="center" |25.10.1950
| align="center" |22.02.1960
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Israel 5 Prutah 1950 Obverse & Reverse.gif|frameless]]
!5 prutot
| align="center" |20
| align="center" |3.2
| rowspan="2" |copper 95%, [[tin]] 3%, [[zinc]] 2%
|[[Lyre]], "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
| align="center" |28.12.1950
| align="center" |22.02.1960
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Israel 10 Prutah 1950 Obverse & Reverse.gif|frameless]]
!10 prutot
| align="center" |27
| align="center" |6.1
|[[Amphora]], "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
| align="center" |04.01.1950
| align="center" |22.02.1960
|-
| align="center" |[[File:10-Pruta-aluminium-hatashyab-RJP.jpg|frameless]]
!10 prutot
| align="center" |24.5
| align="center" |1.6
| rowspan="2" |[[aluminium]] 97%, magnesium 3%
|[[Amphora]], palms, "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
| align="center" |18.09.1952
| align="center" |22.02.1960
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Israel 10 Prutah 1956 Obverse & Reverse.gif|frameless]]
!10 prutot
| align="center" |24.5
| align="center" |1.6
|[[Amphora]], palms, "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
| align="center" |27.12.1956
| align="center" |22.02.1960
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Israel 25 Prutah 1950 Obverse & Reverse.gif|250px]]
!25 prutot
| align="center" |19.5
| align="center" |2.8
| rowspan="3" |copper 75%, nickel 25%
|[[Grape]], "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
| align="center" |04.01.1950
| align="center" |22.02.1960
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Israel 50 Prutah 1949 Obverse & Reverse.gif|frameless]]
!50 prutot
| align="center" |23.5
| align="center" |5.6
|[[Grape]], "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
| align="center" |11.05.1949
| align="center" |22.02.1960
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Israel 100 Prutah 1949 Obverse & Reverse.gif|frameless]]
!100 prutot
| align="center" |28.5
| align="center" |11.3
|Palm, "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
| align="center" |25.05.1949
| align="center" |22.02.1960
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Israel 100 Prutah 1955 Obverse & Reverse.gif|frameless]]
!100 prutot
| align="center" |25.6
| align="center" |7.3
|steel 90%, nickel 10%
|Palm, "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
| align="center" |21.04.1955
| align="center" |22.02.1960
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Israel 250 Prutah 1950 Obverse & Reverse.gif|frameless]]
!250 prutot
| align="center" |32.2
| align="center" |14.1
|copper 75%, nickel 25%
|[[Hordeum|Hordeum, "Israel" in]] [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
| align="center" |11.10.1950
| align="center" |22.02.1960
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Israel 500 Prutah 1952 Obverse & Reverse.gif|frameless]]
!500 prutot
| align="center" |37.1
| align="center" |25
|[[silver]] 50%, copper 37,5%, nickel  12,5%
|Three [[pomegranate]]s, "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
| align="center" |22.05.1952
| align="center" |22.02.1960
|}

=== Agora (1960–1978) ===
{| class="wikitable" align="center" style="font-size: 90%"
|+<big></big><big></big>
! width="25%" |'''Image'''
! width="6%" |'''Value'''
! width="6%" |'''Diameter (mm)'''
! width="8.5%" |'''Mass (g)'''
!'''Composition'''
! width="41.4%" |Obverse
!'''Reverse'''
! width="7.1%" |Date of issue
! width="6%" |Date of '''withdrawal'''
|-
| align="center" |[[file:1-Agora-hatashlad-RJP.jpg|border|250px]]
! 1 agora
| align="center" | 21
| align="center" | 1.3
|[[aluminium]] 97%, magnesium 3%
|[[Barley]], "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
| rowspan="6" |Value, date
| align="center" | 12.05.1960
| align="center" | 22.02.1980
|-
| align="center" |[[file:Israel 5 agorot 1960 Obverse & Reverse.gif|border|250px]]
! 5 agorot
| align="center" | 17,5
| align="center" | 2.3
|1960—1975: [[copper]] 92%, [[aluminium]] 6%, [[nickel]] 2%
1976—1979: aluminium 97%, magnesium 3%
|Three [[pomegranate]]s, "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
| align="center" | 20.10.1960
|22.02.1980
|-
| align="center" |[[file:Israel 10 agorot 1960 Obverse & Reverse.gif|border|250px]]

! 10 agorot
| align="center" | 21,5
| align="center" | 5
|1960—1977: [[copper]] 92%, [[aluminium]] 6%, [[nickel]] 2%
1978—1979: aluminium 97%, magnesium 3%
|[[Date palm]], "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
| align="center" | 06.05.1960
|31.03.1984
|-
| align="center" |[[file:25-Agorot-hatashlag-RJP.jpg|border|250px]]
! 25 agorot
| align="center" | 25,5
| align="center" | 6.5
|[[copper]] 92%, [[aluminium]] 6%, [[nickel]] 2%
|[[Lyre]], "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
| align="center" | 17.03.1960
|22.02.1980
|-
| align="center" |[[file:Israel half pound 1963 Obverse & Reverse.gif|border|250px]]

!IL&nbsp;{{1/2}}
| align="center" | 24,5
| align="center" | 6.8
| rowspan="4" |[[copper]] 75%, [[nickel]] 25%
| rowspan="2" |The [[Emblem of Israel|state emblem]], "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[English language|English]]
| rowspan="2" align="center" | 12.09.1963
| rowspan="4" align="center" | 31.03.1984
|-
| align="center" |[[file:Israel 1 pound 1963 Obverse & Reverse.gif|250px]]
!IL&nbsp;1
| align="center" | 27,5
| align="center" | 9
|-
| align="center" |[[file:1 Israeli Lira coin.jpg|border|250px]]
!IL&nbsp;1
| align="center" | 27,5
| align="center" | 9
|Three pomegranates, the [[Emblem of Israel|state emblem]], "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[English language|English]]
| rowspan="2" |Value, date, two stars
| align="center" | 1967
|-
| align="center" |[[file:Israel 5 pound 1978 Obverse & Reverse.gif|border|250px]]
!IL&nbsp;5
| align="center" | 30
| align="center" | 11,2
|Lion, the [[Emblem of Israel|state emblem]], "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[English language|English]]
| align="center" | 21.09.1978
|}

==Banknotes==

In 1948, the government issued fractional notes for 50 and 100 mils. The Anglo-Palestine Bank issued banknotes for 500 mils, 1, 5, 10 and 50 pounds between 1948 and 1951. In 1952, the government issued a second series of fractional notes for 50 and 100 prutah with 250 prutah notes added in 1953. Also in 1952, the "Bank Leumi Le-Israel" took over paper money production and issued the same denominations as the Anglo-Palestine Bank except that the 500 mils was replaced by a 500 prutah note.

The Bank of Israel began note production in 1955, also issuing notes for 500 prutah, IL&nbsp;1, IL&nbsp;5, IL&nbsp;10 and IL&nbsp;50. In 1968, IL&nbsp;100 notes were introduced, followed by IL&nbsp;500 notes in 1975.

===Bank Leumi series (1952)===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
! rowspan="2" |Image
! rowspan="2" |Value
! rowspan="2" |Dimensions
! rowspan="2" |Main Colour
! colspan="2" |Description
! colspan="2" |Date of
|-
!Obverse
!Reverse!! issue !! ceased to be legal tender
|-
| [[File:Israel 500 Pruta 1952 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|frameless|upright=1.2]] 
| 500 prutah (IL{{1/2}}) || 148 × 72&nbsp;mm || Olive-green on light-blue 
| rowspan="5" |The denomination in centre and above "[[Bank Leumi|Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M.]]" all in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]; all surrounded by guilloches.
| rowspan="5" |The denomination and "[[Bank Leumi|Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M.]]" all in [[Arabic]] and [[English language|English]]; all surrounded by guilloches.|| rowspan="5" |9 June 1952 || rowspan="5" |7 February 1961
|-
| [[File:Israel 1 Israel Pound 1952 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|frameless|upright=1.2]] 
| IL&nbsp;1 || 150 × 75&nbsp;mm || Green-pink 
|-
| [[File:Israel 5 Israel Pound 1952 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|frameless|upright=1.2]] 
| IL&nbsp;5 || 155 × 80&nbsp;mm || Red-brown 
|-
| [[File:Israel 10 Israel Pound 1952 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|frameless|upright=1.2]] 
| IL&nbsp;10 || 155 × 80&nbsp;mm || Gray-pink 
|-
| [[File:Israel 50 Israel Pound 1952 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|frameless|upright=1.2]] 
| IL&nbsp;50 || 160 × 85&nbsp;mm || Brown-green 
|-
|}

===First series (1955)===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
! rowspan="2" |Image
! rowspan="2" |Value
! rowspan="2" |Dimensions
! rowspan="2" |Main Colour
! colspan="3" |Description
! colspan="2" |Date of
|-
! Obverse !! Reverse 
!Watermark!! issue !! ceased to be legal tender
|-
| [[File:Israel 500 Pruta 1955 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|frameless|upright=1.2]] 
| 500 pruta (IL&nbsp;{{1/2}}) || 130 × 72&nbsp;mm || Red ||Ruins of an ancient [[synagogue]] at [[Kafr Bir'im|Bir'am]] in the [[Upper Galilee]].
| rowspan="5" | An abstract design. 
|[[Menorah (Temple)|Menorah]] with an imprint of [[cyclamen]].||4 August 1955 || rowspan="5" |31 March 1984
|-
| [[File:Israel Lira 1955 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]] 
| IL&nbsp;1 || 135 × 72&nbsp;mm || Blue || View of the [[Upper Galilee]]. 
|[[Menorah (Temple)|Menorah]] with an imprint of [[Anemone|anemones.]]|| rowspan="2" | 27 October 1955
|-
| [[File:Israel 5 Lirot 1955 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]] 
| IL&nbsp;5 || 140 × 78&nbsp;mm || Brown ||[[Negev]] landscape with a settlement and farm equipment.
|[[Menorah (Temple)|Menorah]] with an imprint of [[Iris (plant)|irises]].
|-
|  [[File:Israel 10 Lirot 1955 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]] 
| IL&nbsp;10 || 150 × 82&nbsp;mm || Green ||View of the [[Jezreel Valley]] depicting settlements and cultivated fields.
|[[Menorah (Temple)|Menorah]] with an imprint of [[tulip]]s.|| 4 August 1955
|-
|  [[File:Israel 50 Lirot 1955 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]] 
| IL&nbsp;50 || 160 × 87&nbsp;mm || Blue ||The [[Highway 1 (Israel)|road to]] [[Jerusalem]].
|[[Menorah (Temple)|Menorah]] with an imprint of [[Nerium|oleander]].|| 19 September 1957
|-
|}

===Second series (1959)===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
! rowspan="2" |Image
! rowspan="2" |Value
! rowspan="2" |Dimensions
! rowspan="2" |Main Colour
! colspan="3" |Description
! colspan="2" |Date of
|-
! Obverse !! Reverse 
!Watermark!! issue !! ceased to be legal tender
|-
| [[File:Israel HalfLira 1958 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]] 
| IL&nbsp;{{1/2}} || 130 × 70&nbsp;mm || Green || [[Nahal|Pioneer-woman soldier]] holding a basket of oranges against a background of fields. || [[Tombs of the Sanhedrin|Tomb of the Sanhedrin]] in [[Jerusalem]]. 
|The profile of the woman.|| rowspan="4" |15 October 1959 || rowspan="5" |31 March 1984
|-
| [[File:Israel Lira 1958 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]] 
| IL&nbsp;1 || 135 × 75&nbsp;mm || Blue ||Fisherman carrying fishing gear against a background of a bay.
|Mosaic from the floor of an ancient [[synagogue]] at [[Isfiya|lssafiya]] on [[Mount Carmel|Mt. Carmel]].
|The profile of the fisherman.
|-
| [[File:Israel 5 Lira 1958 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]] 
| IL&nbsp;5  || 140 × 78&nbsp;mm || Brown || Labourer holding a sledge-hammer against a background of an industrial plant. || Roaring lion depicted on an ancient Hebrew seal found at [[Megiddo, Israel|Megiddo]]. 
|The profile of the labourer.
|-
|  [[File:Israel 10 Lir 1958 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]] 
| IL&nbsp;10 || 150 × 82&nbsp;mm || Purple || Scientist in a laboratory. ||Passage from the [[Book of Isaiah]] and the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]].
|The profile of the scientist.
|-
|  [[File:Israel 50 Lira 1958 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]]
| IL&nbsp;50 || 178 × 93&nbsp;mm || Brown ||Two young [[Olim|pioneers]] against a background of an agricultural settlement in the [[Negev]].
|[[Menorah (Temple)|Menorah]] from the ancient [[synagogue]] of [[Nirim]] in the [[Negev]].
|The profile of the pioneers.
| 9 December 1960
|-
|}

===Third series (1970)===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
! rowspan="2" |Image
! rowspan="2" |Value
! rowspan="2" |Dimensions
! rowspan="2" |Main Colour
! colspan="3" |Description
! colspan="2" |Date of
|-
! Obverse !! Reverse 
!Watermark!! issue !!ceased to be legal tender
|-
| [[File:Israel 5 Sheqalim 1968 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]] 
| IL&nbsp;5 || 150 × 75&nbsp;mm || Light blue ||Portrait of [[Albert Einstein]].
|The [[Soreq Nuclear Research Center|Atomic reactor at Nahal Sorek]].
|Profile of [[Albert Einstein]].
| 13 January 1972 || rowspan="4" | 31 March 1984
|-
|  [[File:Israel 10 Lirot 1968 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]] 
| IL&nbsp;10 || 160 × 82&nbsp;mm || Yellow-ivory ||Portrait of [[Hayim Nahman Bialik|Chaim Nachman Bialik]].
|[[Bialik House|Bialik's home]] in [[Tel Aviv|Tel-Aviv]].
|Profile of [[Hayim Nahman Bialik|Chaim Nachman Bialik]].
| 6 August 1970
|-
|  [[File:Israel 50 Lirot 1968 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]]
| IL&nbsp;50 || 170 × 84&nbsp;mm || Brown-red ||Portrait of [[Chaim Weizmann]].
|The [[Knesset|Knesset Building]] in [[Jerusalem]].
|Profile of [[Chaim Weizmann]].
| 13 January 1972
|-
| [[File:Israel 100Lirot 1968 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]] 
| IL&nbsp;100 || 180 × 90&nbsp;mm || Blue ||Portrait of [[Theodor Herzl]].
|The [[Emblem of Israel|Emblem]] of the [[Israel|State of Israel]] surrounded by the emblems of the [[Twelve Tribes of Israel|twelve tribes]].
|Profile of [[Theodor Herzl]].|| 27 February 1969
|}

===Fourth series (1975)===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
! rowspan="2" |Image
! rowspan="2" |Value
! rowspan="2" |Dimensions
! rowspan="2" |Main Colour
! colspan="3" |Description
! colspan="2" |Date of
|-
! Obverse !! Reverse 
!Watermark!! issue !! ceased to be legal tender
|-
| [[File:Israel 5 Lirot 1973 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]] 
| IL&nbsp;5 || 128 × 76&nbsp;mm || Brown || Portrait of [[Henrietta Szold]]; [[Hadassah Medical Center|Hadassah Hospital]] on [[Mount Scopus|Mt. Scopus]] in [[Jerusalem]]. || [[Lions' Gate|Lion's Gate]] in the [[Old City (Jerusalem)|Old City of Jerusalem]]. 
|Profile of [[Henrietta Szold]].|| 11 March 1976 || rowspan="5" | 31 March 1984
|-
|  [[File:Israel 10 Lirot 1973 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]] 
| IL&nbsp;10 || 135 × 76&nbsp;mm || Pink-purple ||Portrait of [[Moses Montefiore|Moshe Montefiori]]; the [[Mishkenot Sha'ananim|Mishkanot Shaananim]] quarter in [[Jerusalem]] with the [[Montefiore Windmill|windmill]].
|[[Jaffa Gate]] in the [[Old City (Jerusalem)|Old City of Jerusalem]].
|Profile of [[Moses Montefiore|Moshe Montefiori]].
| 30 January 1975
|-
|  [[File:Israel 50 Lirot 1975 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]]
| IL&nbsp;50 || 141 × 76&nbsp;mm || Green ||Portrait of [[Chaim Weizmann]]; the Wix Library at the [[Weizmann Institute of Science]].
|[[Damascus Gate|Damascus gate]] in the [[Old City (Jerusalem)|Old City of Jerusalem]].
|Profile of [[Chaim Weizmann]].
| 26 January 1978
|-
| [[File:Israel 100Lirot 1973 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]] 
| IL&nbsp;100 || 147 × 76&nbsp;mm || Blue ||Portrait of [[Theodor Herzl]]; the entrance gate to [[Mount Herzl|Mt. Herzl]] in [[Jerusalem]].
|[[Zion Gate]] in the [[Old City (Jerusalem)|Old City of Jerusalem]].
|Profile of [[Theodor Herzl]].
| 14 March 1975
|-
| [[File:Israel 500Lirot 1975 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]] 
| IL&nbsp;500 || 153 × 76&nbsp;mm || Ivory-brown ||Portrait of [[David Ben-Gurion]]; the library at [[Sde Boker|kibbutz Sde Boker]].
|[[Golden Gate (Jerusalem)|Golden Gate]] in the [[Old City (Jerusalem)|Old City of Jerusalem]].
|Profile of [[David Ben-Gurion]].
| 26 May 1977
|}

==See also==
* [[British currency in the Middle East]]
* [[Bank of Israel]]
* [[Economy of Israel]]
* [[Paul Kor]]

== Citations ==
{{Reflist}}

== General and cited references==
{{refbegin}}
* {{numis cite SCWC |date=1991}}
* {{numis cite SCWPM |date=1994}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Israeli lira}}
* [https://www.boi.org.il/en/Currency/ Past Notes & Coins Series]. Bank of Israel

{{Historical currencies of Israel}}
{{Pound (currency)}}
{{Portal bar|Asia|Israel|Money|Numismatics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Israeli pound}}
[[Category:1948 establishments in Israel]]
[[Category:1980 disestablishments in Israel]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of David Ben-Gurion]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Albert Einstein]]
[[Category:Currencies of Israel|Pound]]
[[Category:Modern obsolete currencies]]
[[Category:Pound (currency)]]