Minting coins is one of the special prerogatives of a sovereign state. One of the ways that the modern State of Israel asserts its connection to the ancient Jewish state is the use of motives from ancient coins on modern ones. In fact, ancient elements are incorporated in the design almost every modern Israel coin, from 1948 until now. Many of the elements are repeated in several issues of the same coin. Modern Denomination Symbol (click on image to view coin) Description and Origin 25 mil (April 1949 - Sept. 1950) 25 pruta (Jan. 1950 - Feb. 1980) Cluster of grapes from a Bar-Kochba coin (132 - 135 C.E.) 1 agora (May 1960 - Feb. 1980) Three ears of barley from a coin of Agrippa (37-44 CE) 5 agorot (Oct. 1980 - Feb. 1980) 1 pound (Sept. 1967 - March 1984) Three ripe pomegranates from carving in a frieze found in an ancient synagogue at Capernaum 100 pruta (May 1949 - Feb. 1980) 10 agorot (May 1949 - Feb. 1980) 1 new agora (May 1980 - March 1984) Palm tree from Bar-Kochba coin (132 - 135 C.E.) 50 prutot (May 1949 - Feb. 1980) Vine leaf from a coin from the war of the Jews against Rome (66 - 70 C.E.) 250 prutot (Oct. 1950 - Feb. 1980) Three palm branches from a coin from the war of the Jews against Rome (66 - 70 C.E.) 500 prutot (May 1952 - Feb. 1980) 10 new agorot Three pomegranates from a coin from the war of the Jews against Rome (66 - 70 C.E.) 1 shekels (Sept. 1985 - present) Lily from a Judean coin during the Persian period (6th-4th century B.C.E.) 10 shekels (Feb. 1995 - present) Palm tree from an ancient coin from 69 C.E., the fourth year of the Jewish-Roman war, one year before the destruction of the Second Temple 50 shekels (March 1984 - Sept. 1986) 5 (shekels) agorot (Sept. 1985 - present) Coin from the 4th year of war of the Jews against Rome depicting a lulav between two etrogim 5 pounds (Sept. 1978 - March 1984) 1/2 shekel (Feb. 1980 - Feb. 1985) Roaring lion from an ancient Hebrew seal found at Megiddo 1 pruta (Oct. 1950 - Feb. 1980) Anchor from coin of Alexander Jannaeus (76 - 103 B.C.E.) 25 agorot (March 1960 - Feb. 1980) Three-stringed lyre from Bar-Kochba coin (132 - 135 C.E.) 5 pruta (Dec. 1950 - Feb. 1980) Four-stringed lyre from Bar-Kochba coin (132 - 135 C.E.) 10 pruta (Jan. 1950 - Feb. 1980) Two-handled amphora from Bar-Kochba coin (132 - 135 C.E.) 500 prutot (May 1952 - Feb. 1980) 1 shekel ( Jan. 1981- Sept. 1985) Chalice from a coin from the war of the Jews against Rome (66 - 70 C.E.) 5 shekels (Sept. 1981- Sept. 1985) Double cornucopia from a coin from the period of John Hyrcanus I (135 - 104 B.C.E.) 10 shekels (Feb. 1982 - Sept. 1986) 1 (shekel) agora (Sept. 1985 - present) Ancient galley from a coin issued by Herod Archelaus (4 B.C.E. - 6 C.E.) 1/2 shekel (Sept. 1985 - present) Multi-string lyre from an Ancient Hebrew seal with the inscription "Maadana, the King's daughter" 1 pound (Sept. 1963 - March 1984) 1/2 pound (Sept. 1963 - March 1984) 5 new agorot (Feb. 1980- March 1984) Emblem of the State, menorah copied from the relief of the Arch of Titus 5 shekels (Jan. 1990 - present) Typical capital of column from the Israelite period (10th-7th century B.C.E.) 100 shekels (May 1984 - Sept. 1986) 10 (shekels) agorot (Sept. 1985 - present) Coin issued by Mattathias Antigonus (37 - 40 B.C.E.) with the seven-branched candelabrum   The Israeli monetary system was changed in September 1985 and the present shekel is called New Israeli Shekel (NIS). MONEY Table of Contents