Czeslaw Slania's Engraved Banknotes 
for Israel

Currency Reform in Israel
1980:    100 Agorot = One Sheqel.
1986:    1000 old Shequels = One New Sheqel. 
The spelling "Sheqel", and "Sheqalim" is used interchangeably with "Shekel" and "Shekelim". 

Please note that Slania has only engraved the portraits on the front sides of the Israeli banknotes, not the rest of the banknotes, nor the reverse sides.

Pick # 49

Pick # 51 A

• 1983.  1000 Sheqalim.  The banknote was issued for the 850th anniversary of Maimonides' birth.  
  NB - OBS:  Slania has used his own ear as model for the portrait.
• 1986.  Banknote of 1 New Sheqalim. 

Pick # 50

Pick # 52

• 1984.  Pick No. 50.  Banknote of 5000 Sheqalim.  
• 1987.  Pick No. 52.  Banknote of 5 New Sheqalim. 

Pick # 51

Pick # 53

• 1984.  Banknote of 10,000 Sheqalim.  Golda Meir (1898-1978).  Israeli politician born in Russia.  Secretary of Labour and Social Affairs 1949-1952), Secretary of Labour 1952-1965, and Minister for Foreign Affairs 1956-1966.  When Levi Eshkol passed away in 1969 she took over for him as Prime Minister until 1974, when she retired from political life.  The 10,000-note is now obsolete and corresponds to 10 Sheqel.  
• 1985, 1987, and 1992.  Banknote of 10 New Sheqalim.   

Pick # 55 A

• 1985, 1988, and 1992.  Banknote of 50 New Sheqalim.  Shmuel Yosef Agnon (1888-1970).  Israeli author who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1966 for his profoundly characteristic narrative art with motifs from the life of the Jewish people.   

In 1998 The State of Israel commemorated its 50th birthday by issuing a special edition of the 1985-banknote engraved by Czeslaw Slania.  There are few subtle differences from the "original" banknote: The serial number is just 5 digits long instead of 10 (because of the small edition).  The set contains also a special coin, and both items are legal tender. Below is shown a scan of the Jubilee Edition, together with the English text from the information sheet.

The special banknote for Israel's 50th Anniversary which bears the year of issue 5758/1998, is a unique variation of the 50 New Israeli Sheqalim Banknote with the portrait of Shai [Shmuel Yosef] Agnon, see immediately above.  

In contrast to the regular 50 NIS Banknote, the special 50 NIS denomination will be printed in special colored ink (OVI), which changes color when looked at from different angles. The serial number of the Banknote consists of 5
figures (instead of 10, as is customary with regular banknotes) and appears on the face, left to the watermark, vertical to the portrait.

Shai Agnon, one of the greatest writers of Hebrew literature in the 20th century, was born in 1988 in Galicia.  In 1907 he immigrated to the land of Israel, spending most of his years living in Jerusalem. He won many awards, including the Nobel Prize in 1966.

The Banknote portrays Jerusalem and an East European shtetl, the basis for many of his writings. In the arc formed between the skyline of Jerusalem and the shtetl, are the names of 18 of Agnon's books, printed in tiny letters.

Shai Agnon wrote the "Prayer for the State of Israel" which is recited on Shabat in the synagogues around the world.

Banknote Specifications
Size: 76x138mm
Watermark: Portrait of Shai Agnon
Security thread: In center of noe
Look-through: A three-sided pattern on the front merges with another on the back to form a star of David when held against the light.
Sign for the blind: A pentagon in the upper right-hand corner of the front
Design: Eliezer Weishoff
Year: 5758/1998
Denomination: 50 NIS
20,000 Special Banknotes were issued, 10,001 of which are available as single notes, bearing serial numbers from 10,000 to 20,000  [The banknote shown here has the serial number 11,039].  

The information sheet accompanying the commemorative banknote and coin 1998.

Scan of the 1998-commemorative banknote kindly submitted by Mr. Zvi Har'El (Israel).