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Code ILS
Symbol ₪
Coins
NIS ½, 1, 2, 5, 10
Banknotes
NIS 20, 50, 100, 200
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Budget planning tool
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Planning your trip to Israel
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About the new Israeli Shekel
Coins and notes
The Israeli new shekel (or sheqel) is the official currency of the State of Israel, but it’s also used in several Palestinian territories, including the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The new shekel can be divided into 100 agora. On ILS coins and banknotes, the currency is spelled as “sheqel”, but “shekel” is commonly used (this currency is so nice they named it twice).
Decorated with images of mosques, local landmarks and famous political and religious leaders, Israeli banknotes are circulated in $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 and $200 denominations. Israeli coins come in both agora and shekel values, including 1c, 5c, 10c, $½, $1, $2, $5 and $10 pieces. Have fun trying to fit all that pocket change in your wallet!
Facts about Israeli Shekel
- The Israeli shekel is one of the least restricted currencies in the world when it comes to importing and exporting, with no restrictions in place. You may find that some tourist sites in Israel accept USD as payment, but you’re still likely to receive your change in shekels.
- The symbol for the shekel does not appear on most keyboards and is rarely used, so instead the currency is commonly referred to by its initials – NIS.
- Israel has no mint to produce its currency. Banknotes are printed in Switzerland and coins are minted in South Korea.
- Many of the NIS banknotes have a vertical orientation rather than the traditional horizontal design.
- The $20 note was the first to be made of polymer, and was issued in 2008.
- Prior to 1969, the currency of Israel was the lira or pound. This changed to the shekel, but implementation only happened 9 years after the law was passed to introduce the new currency. Better late than never.
Check out the rates chart to see an overview of how the rates have compared against each other in the past. Political and world events can cause rates to fluctuate. If you’re trying to keep track of how much spending money you’ll need, you may also find it helpful to sign up for currency alerts.