Israel Treasury deference to the traditional Jewish ban against the use of “grave images” on paper money was modified today in a decision to use haven figures to foil counterfeiters.
The Israel State Bank will issue new bank notes to replace two types now in circulation The new notes will have reproductions of human figures which experts say is the best guarantee against counterfeiting because the human figure, particularly the face, is extremely hard to falsify. The smallest deviation alters the picture enough for instant recognition of the change.
Treasury officials said that in the past year a considerable sum in counterfeit ten pound notes was found. They said it appeared that the money had been made in the Gaza Strip, although they added the counterfeiting probably was the work of private operators.
To meet objections from religious sources, the Treasury agreed that the human figure on the new notes should be symbolic–not specific–representing agriculture, defense, culture and similar subjects. At the specific request of Prime Minister David Ben Gurion the symbolic figure for agriculture will be recognizable as a Yemenite immigrant.
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