Warm ivory-brown tones give this first shekel note a restrained civic gravity, where state portraiture and Jerusalem stone are brought together within a calm, spacious design.
Design & Symbolism
Obverse
The obverse is anchored by the portrait of David Ben-Gurion, set against the library building at Kibbutz Sde Boker and framed by Hebrew inscriptions and broad pale margins. The composition joins the first prime minister’s presence with the desert retreat associated with his later life, linking political leadership to reflection, scholarship, and the formative memory of the Israeli state.
Reverse
The reverse centers on the Golden Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem, rendered as a dense architectural mass above the trilingual Bank of Israel inscription. This shift from portrait to monument places the note within a broader civic landscape, connecting Ben-Gurion’s legacy with Jerusalem’s enduring historical and symbolic weight.
Collector’s Insight
For collectors, this 1978-dated note belongs to Israel’s first shekel series introduced into circulation in 1980, when the lira was replaced and one zero was removed from the former denominations. Its pairing of David Ben-Gurion with the Golden Gate creates a compelling intersection of early shekel-era monetary reform, state leadership, and Jerusalem architecture.
Shipping & Guarantee
Each banknote is carefully handled and securely packed to ensure safe delivery. Authenticity is guaranteed.
Serial number and prefix may vary from the reference image.
