The Cabinet, yielding to public pressure, ordered the printing of a new one Shekel note as companion to the new one Shekel coin which has been disparaged by Israelis because of its small size.
The Cabinet acted Sunday because many people find it hard to take the coin seriously as “real money.” It is referred to as “the button” because it is so much smaller than coins of less value. The new Shekel, note or coin, equals 1,000 old Shekels and has a value of 66 cents, American.
The new note, like the coin, will bear a likeness of Maimonides (Rambam), the 12th century Jewish philosopher and physician. The Cabinet also approved the printing of a 100 Shekel note which will carry a portrait of the late Yitzhak Ben Zvi, the second President of Israel. It will be the highest denomination banknote in circulation. Until now the highest is a 50 Shekel note.
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