The Israeli new sheqel or New Israeli sheqel (abbr. NIS; symbol: ₪; also spelled shekel; pl. sheqalim or shekalim) is the currency of Israel. It replaced the Israeli sheqel in 1985 at a rate of 1000 Israeli sheqels per 1 New Israeli sheqel. The ISO 4217 code for the NIS is ILS. The NIS is divided into 100 agorot (sing. agora).

In Hebrew, the NIS is called "שקל חדש" (Sheqel Chadash), and is usually abbreviated ש"ח (pronounced shach). The symbol for the NIS is ₪, a combination of the first Hebrew letters of the words sheqel (ש) and chadash (ח).

Banknotes exist of 20, 50, 100, and 200 NIS. Originally there were also banknotes of 1, 5, and 10 NIS. These were replaced by coins in subsequent years. A plan to issue a 500 NIS banknote, carrying the portrait of Yitzhak Rabin, was announced shortly after Rabin's assassination in 1995. However, due to low inflation rates, there is currently no need for such a banknote, and it is not expected to be issued in the foreseeable future.

Coins exist of 5, 10, and 50 agorot, and 1, 5, and 10 NIS. A 1 agora coin was issued in 1985, but was abolished in 1991. In late 2004, the Bank of Israel announced a plan to issue a 2 NIS coin. As of 2005, such a coin is not yet in circulation.

On May 3, 2006, the NIS exchange rate stood at 5.66311 NIS per one euro and at 4.48990 NIS per one U.S. Dollar. Since January 1, 2003, the NIS has been a freely convertible currency.

External links

• Bank of Israel catalogue of Israeli currency since 1948
• Exchange rates since 1948
• Banknotes of Israel

Currencies of Israel | Currency signs | Circulating currencies

Шекел | Nou xéquel | Ny Shekel | Schekel | Shekel | Novo Sheqel | Sheqel | שקל חדש | Sjekel | 新シェケル | Szekel | Novo sheqel israelense | Şekel nou | Шекель | Shekel | ניי-שקל