SHEQEL - Page 2.3 - Trade Coins Page 3 : Agora

Chapter II
Trade Coins
Page 3

Agora - Lira series

1 Lira = 100 New Agorot

Date introduced: 1 January 1960

1 Agora
Obverse: Three Ears of Barley (37 - 44 AD)

On the obverse of the 1 Agora coin appear three ears of barley. The original coin, from which the design was taken, was minted during the reign of Agrippa I (37 - 44 AD).

1 Agora
Regular-issue trade coin

Issued: 1960 - 1980

Catalog # 24.1
Alloy: aluminium 97%, magnesium 3%
Diameter: 20 mm
Weight: 1.03 gr
Edge : scalloped

Date

Mintage

Remarks

Value USD

Heb.

Civil

Quantity

Mint

Unc.

5720

1960

^?5

ICI

Eight grains type I ^(I)

---

8,500.00

^?15

Eight grains type II ^(II)

---

5,000.00

---

8,500.00

012,768,000

Lamed in Israel with serif ^(III)

000,0.20

0,000.20

0,000.80

0,001.50

0,003.00

Lamed in Israel without serif ^(IV)

7.00

8.00

18.00

40.00

60.00

^?300

Large date ^(V)- qty. appears in several catalogs, but may be significantly higher

20.00

25.00

120.00

400.00

1,200

5721

1961

19,262,000

ICI

0.20

0.60

1.80

3.00

Thick date ^(VI)

5.00

6.00

13.00

40.00

70.00

Wide date ^(VII)

5.00

6.00

12.00

35.00

60.00

5722

1962

10,600,000

Bern

Large date ^(VII)

0.20

0.40

0.80

1.50

3,900,000

Tel Aviv

Small date, small serifs ^(IX)

0.70

2.50

4.50

9.00

5723

1963

6,000,000

Bern

0.10

0.20

0.35

0.60

8,794,000

Tel Aviv

0.10

0.20

0.35

0.60

^?100,000

Tel Aviv

Coin alignment (inverted reverse) ^(X) - official qty. 10,000, but actual qty. may be up to ten times higher

2.50

3.50

5.00

9.00

5724

1964

4,950,000

Bern

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

22,604,241

Tel Aviv

5725

1965

10,000,024

Bern

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

10,707,625

Tel Aviv

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5726

1966

1,680,000

Bern

0.20

0.40

0.75

1.50

8,484,502

Tel Aviv

0.10

0.20

0.35

0.60

5727

1967

6,782,271

Jerusalem

0.10

0.20

0.35

0.60

5728

1968

20,899,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5729

1969

22,120,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5730

1970

17,748,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5731

1971

10,290,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5732

1972

24,512,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5733

1973

20,496,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5734

1974

34,000,000

Ottawa

Polished die, cat. # 24.1-ou ^(XI)

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

8,080,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5735

1975

1,574,000

Jerusalem

0.20

0.35

0.70

1.50

5736

1976

4,512,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5737

1977

9,680,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5738

1978

8,864,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5739

1979

4,048,763

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5740

1980

2,599,634

Jerusalem

0.40

0.70

1.50

3.00

Images of varieties
(Roman numerals correspond with description in Remarks column)

(I)

Eight grains type I

(II)

Eight grains typr II

(III)

(IV) Picture pending

(V)

Large date

(VI) Picture pending

(VII) Picture pending

(IX) Picture pending

(X)

Coin alignment (inverted reverse)

(XI)

Polished die

5 Agorot
Obverse: Pomegranates (66 - 70 AD)

Three ripe pomegranates adorn the obverse of the 5 Agorot trade coin, as found on a carving in an ancient synagogue at Capernaum, dating back to the first Jewish-Roman war (66 - 70 AD).

5 Agorot
Regular-issue trade coin

Issued: 1960 - 1975

Catalog # 25

Alloy: aluminium-bronze (copper 92%, aluminium 6%, nickel 2%)
Diameter: 17.5 mm
Weight: 2.3 gr
Edge : smooth

Date

Mintage

Remarks

Value USD

Heb.

Civil

Quantity

Mint

Unc.

5720

1960

8,019,000

Tel Aviv

0.40

0.70

1.50

3.00

5721

1961

5,000,000

ICI

High date with serifs ^(I)

3.00

6.00

15.00

30.00

5721

1961

5,012,000

Bern

Sharp. flat date ^(II)

0.20

0.30

0.50

0.80

5721

1961

10,078,000

Tel Aviv

Sharp. flat date ^(II)

5722

1962

11,198,000

Tel Aviv

Large date ^(III)

0.20

0.30

0.50

0.80

5722

1962

incl.

Tel Aviv

Small date ^(iV)

1.00

1.50

3.00

6.00

5723

1963

1,429,000

Tel Aviv

0.10

0.20

0.40

0.80

5724

1964

21,451

Tel Aviv

15.00

25.00

50.00

100.00

250.00

5725

1965

201,281

Tel Aviv

0.40

0.60

1.00

2.00

5726

1966

290,866

Tel Aviv

0.40

0.60

1.00

2.00

5727

1967

2,195,144

Jerusalem

0.20

0.40

0.80

1.50

5728

1968

4,030,000

Jerusalem

0.20

0.40

0.80

1.50

5729

1969

2,200,103

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.45

0.80

5730

1970

4,004,000

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.45

0.80

5731

1971

14,010,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5732

1972

9,005,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5733

1973

9,380,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5733

1973

16,340,000

Ottawa

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5734

1974

10.470,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5735

1975

10,232,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

Images of varieties below
(Roman numerals correspond with description in Remarks column):

(I) Picture pending

(II) Picture pending

(III) Picture pending

(IV) Picture pending

5 Agorot
Regular-issue trade coin

Issued: 1976 - 1979

Catalog # 25b
Alloy: aluminium 97%, magnesium 3%

Diameter: 17.5 mm
Weight: 0.75 gr
Edge : smooth

Date

Mintage

Remarks

Value USD

Heb.

Civil

Quantity

Mint

Unc.

5736

1976

13,156,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5737

1977

16,800,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5737

1977

15,000,010

Winnipeg

Polished die, cat. # 25b(o)(U) ^(I)

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.30

5738

1978

21,480,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5738

1978

38,716,000

Winnipeg

Polished die, cat. # 25b(o)(U) ^(I)

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.30

5739

1979

12,835,709

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

Images of varieties below
(Roman numerals correspond with description in Remarks column):

(I)

Polished die

10 Agorot
Obverse: Palm Tree (132 - 135 AD)

The obverse of the 10 Agorot trade coin is modeled after a series of bronze coins, issued by Simon Bar Kochba during the second Jewish revolt against the Roman Empire (132 - 135 AD). The ancient coin shown here depicts a palm tree with ripe dates, is inscribed "Shimon" and undated.

10 Agorot
Regular-issue trade coin

Issued: 1960 - 1976

Catalog # 26
Alloy: aluminium-bronze (copper 92%, aluminium 6%, nickel 2%)
Diameter: 21.5 mm
Weight: 5.0 gr
Edge : smooth

Date

Mintage

Remarks

Value USD

Heb.

Civil

Quantity

Mint

Unc.

5720

1960

14,397,000

Tel Aviv

0.10

0.15

0.30

0.50

5721

1961

5,000,000

ICI

0.50

0.80

1.60

4.00

5721

1961

7,726,000

Tel Aviv

0.50

0.80

1.60

3.00

5721

1961

95,000

Bern

5721

1961

'Fatcha' above Arabic characters ^(I)

25.00

40.00

100.00

250.00

5722

1962

8,845,000

Tel Aviv

Large date, thick letters ^(II)

0.20

0.30

0.60

1.50

5723

1963

3,931,000

Tel Aviv

0.20

0.30

0.60

1.50

5724

1964

3,612,423

Tel Aviv

Curved "Shin (generic) ^(III)

0.20

0.30

0.60

1.50

5724

1964

incl.

Tel Aviv

Straight "Shin (variety) ^(IV)

4.00

10.00

22.00

40.00

5725

1965

200,561

Tel Aviv

0.50

1.00

1.80

3.00

5726

1966

7,276,610

Tel Aviv

0.05

0.08

0.15

0.30

5727

1967

6,426,438

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.15

0.30

5728

1968

4,825,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.15

0.30

5729

1969

6,810,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.15

0.30

5730

1970

6,131,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.15

0.30

5731

1971

6,810,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.15

0.30

5732

1972

1,260,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.15

0.30

5732

1972

18,393,112

Bern

5733

1973

5,625,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.15

0.30

5733

1973

10,580,000

Ottawa

0.05

0.08

0.15

0.30

5734

1974

18,160,000

Ottawa

0.05

0.08

0.15

0.30

5734

1974

3,880,000

Jerusalem

5735

1975

25,135,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.80

0.15

0.30

5736

1976

34,870,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.15

0.30

5736

1976

20,000,006

Ottawa

5737

1977

27,885,863

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.15

0.30

Images of varieties below
(Roman numerals correspond with description in Remarks column):

(I)

"Fatcha" on 10 Agorot 5761/1961

From left to right:

General view of obverse.

Complete word "ISRA'IL" (Israel) in Arabic; the "Fatcha" is visible above the Arabic letter R.

Blowup of the letter R with "Fatcha" above.

(II) Picture pending

(III)

Curved "Shin" on 10 Agorot 5724/1964 (generic)

(IV)

Straight "Shin" on 10 Agorot 5724/1964 (variety)

10 Agorot
Regular-issue trade coin

Issued: 1977 - 1979

Catalog # 26b
Alloy: aluminium 97%, magnesium 3%

Diameter: 21.5 mm
Weight: 1.6 gr
Edge : smooth

Date

Mintage

Remarks

Value USD

Heb.

Civil

Quantity

Mint

Unc.

5737

1977

13,156,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5737

1977

16,800,000

Winnipeg

Polished die, cat. # 26b(o)(U) ^(I)

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.30

5738

1978

15,000,010

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5738

1978

21,480,000

Winnipeg

Polished die, cat. # 26b(o)(U) ^(I)

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.30

5739

1979

38,716,000

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

5740

1980

12,835,709

Jerusalem

0.05

0.08

0.12

0.20

Images of varieties below
(Roman numerals correspond with description in Remarks column):

(I)

Polished die

25 Agorot
Obverse: Lyre (132 - 135 AD)

The 25 Agorot trade coin has on its obverse a stylized rendition of a lyre, taken from a series of coins minted during the second revolt against the Romans (132 - 135 AD).

25 Agorot
Regular-issue trade coin

Issued: 1960 - 1979

Catalog # 27
Alloy: aluminium-bronze (copper 92%, aluminium 6%, nickel 2%)
Diameter: 25.5 mm
Weight: 6.5 gr
Edge : smooth

Date

Mintage

Remarks

Value USD

Heb.

Civil

Quantity

Mint

Unc.

5720

1960

4,351,000

Tel Aviv

0.10

0.15

0.25

0.50

5720

1960

40,000

Bern

5721

1961

2,010,000

Bern

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5721

1961

2,994,000

Tel Aviv

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5721

1961

5,000

Utrecht

5722

1962

882,000

Tel Aviv

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5723

1963

194,000

Tel Aviv

0.40

0.55

0.80

1.50

5725

1965

186,544

Tel Aviv

0.40

0.55

0.80

1.50

5726

1966

320,000

Tel Aviv

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5727

1967

325,041

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5728

1968

445,000

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5729

1969

432,004

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5730

1970

417.000

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5731

1971

500,030

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0,50

1.00

5732

1972

1,883,000

Jerusalem

0.10

0.20

0.40

0.80

5733

1973

3,770,000

Jerusalem

0.10

0.20

0.35

0.60

5734

1974

2,320,000

Jerusalem

0.10

0.20

0.35

0.60

5735

1975

3,968,000

Jerusalem

0.10

0.20

0.35

0.60

5736

1976

3,901,000

Jerusalem

0.10

0.20

0.35

0.60

5737

1977

1,832,000

Jerusalem

0.10

0.20

0.40

0.80

5738

1978

12,200,000

Jerusalem

0.10

0.20

0.35

0.60

5739

1979

10,842,147

Jerusalem

0.10

0.20

0.35

0.60

½ Lira
Obverse: State Emblem

The obverse of the ½ Lira trade coin shows the Menorah in its official form as Israel's State emblem. The best known origin of the modern design can be seen on the Arch of Titus in Rome, where The Sack of Jerusalem by Titus in 70 AD is illustrated in the finest detail. The modern State emblem exemplifies the resurrection of the People of Israel, almost 1900 years after the destruction of the Second Temple

½ Lira

Regular-issue trade coin

Issued: 1963 - 1979

Catalog # 36.1

Alloy: cupro-nickel (copper 75%, nickel 25%)

Diameter: 24.5 mm
Weight: 6.8 gr
Edge : reeded

Date

Mintage

Remarks

Value USD

Heb.

Civil

Quantity

Mint

Unc.

5723

1963

5,593,000

Tel Aviv

Large animals ^(I)

0.30

0.60

1.20

2.00

5723

1963

14,000

Bern

Small animals ^(II)

1.00

2.00

5.00

12.00

5724

1964

3,761,890

Tel Aviv

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5725

1965

1,551,167

Tel Aviv

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5726

1966

2,139,000

Tel Aviv

0.10

0.20

0.40

0.80

5727

1967

1,941,579

Jerusalem

0.10

0.20

0.40

0.80

5728

1968

1,183,000

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5729

1969

450,000

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5730

1970

1,001,023

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5731

1971

500,008

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5732

1972

421,000

Jerusalem

0.30

0.50

1.00

2.00

5733

1973

119,000

Jerusalem

0.10

0.20

0.40

0.80

5733

1973

3,115,000

Bern

5734

1974

4,275,015

Jerusalem

0.10

0.20

0.40

0.80

5735

1975

6,066,000

Jerusalem

0.10

0.20

0.40

0.80

5735

1975

5,000,010

Canberra

5736

1976

4,959,000

Jerusalem

0.10

0.20

0.40

0.80

5737

1977

4,983,010

Jerusalem

0.10

0.20

0.40

0.80

5738

1978

14,325,000

Jerusalem

0.10

0.20

0.40

0.80

5739

1979

21,391,170

Jerusalem

0.10

0.20

0.40

0.80

Images of varieties below
(Roman numerals correspond with description in Remarks column):

(I) Picture pending

(II) Picture pending

1 Lira

Type I
Obverse: State Emblem

The obverse of the 1 Lira (type I) trade coin shows the Menorah in its official form as Israel's State emblem. The best known origin of the modern design can be seen on the Arch of Titus in Rome, where The Sack of Jerusalem by Titus in 70 AD is illustrated in the finest detail. The modern State emblem exemplifies the resurrection of the People of Israel, almost 1900 years after the destruction of the Second Temple.
The 1 Lira type I coin was issued for a short period only, due to a deluge of complaints from the public, that its design was almost similar to that of the ½ Lira coin listed above.

1 Lira

Type I

Regular-issue trade coin

Issued: 1963 - 1967

Catalog # 37

Alloy: cupro-nickel (copper 75%, nickel 25%)
Diameter: 27.5 mm
Weight: 9 gr
Edge : reeded

Date

Mintage

Remarks

Value USD

Heb.

Civil

Quantity

Mint

Unc.

5723

1963

4,180,000

Tel Aviv

Large animals ^(I)

0.20

0.35

0.60

1.00

5723

1963

32,000

Bern

1.50

2.50

4.50

8.00

5723

1963

incl.

Bern

Small animals ^(II)

3.00

5.00

8.00

15.00

5725

1965

166,053

Tel Aviv

0.40

0.70

1.30

2.50

5726

1966

290,000

Tel Aviv

0.40

0.70

1.30

2.50

5727

1967

180,066

Jerusalem

0.40

0.70

1.30

2.50

Images of varieties below
(Roman numerals correspond with description in Remarks column):

(I) Picture pending

(II) Picture pending

1 Lira

Type II
Obverse: Pomegranates (66-70 AD)

The obverse of the 1 Lira (type II) trade coin depicts a High priest staff with three buds of pomegranates, as it appeared on a silver coin minted in Jerusalem during the first revolt against the Romans (66 - 70 AD).

1 Lira

Type II

Regular-issue trade coin

Issued: 1967 - 1980

Catalog # 47.1

Alloy: cupro-nickel (copper 75%, nickel 25%)
Diameter: 27.5 mm
Weight: 9 gr
Edge : intermittently reeded and smooth

Date

Mintage

Remarks

Value USD

Heb.

Civil

Quantity

Mint

Unc.

5727

1967

3,830,388

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5728

1968

3,932,061

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5729

1969

12,484,016

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5730

1970

4,793,663

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5731

1971

2,993,000

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5732

1972

2,485,041

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5733

1973

150,000

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5733

1973

10,115,000

Bern

5734

1974

4,000,000

Ottawa

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5734

1974

2,287,000

Jerusalem

Thick planchet

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5735

1975

7,225,000

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5735

1975

6,000,010

Canberra

5736

1976

4,268,000

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5737

1977

11,129,000

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5738

1978

25,361,000

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.50

1.00

5738

1978

36,391,000

Winnipeg

5739

1979

24,200,000

Winnipeg

0.20

0.30

0.60

1.50

5739

1979

10,615,464

Jerusalem

5740

1980

10,840,424

Jerusalem

0.20

0.30

0.60

1.50

5 Lirot
Obverse: Roaring Lion

The origin and whereabouts of the Roaring Lion on the obverse of the 5 Lirot trade coin remain one of the greatest mysteries of Holy Land archaeology since 1903, when it was discovered at Megiddo by Gottlieb Schumacher, a German railway engineer (the Dera'a to Haifa branch line of the Hedjaz railway was built under his management) cum archaeologist, born in a Templar community in Haifa. The depiction in great detail of the King of Beasts appears on a seal, inscribed with the words "Shema Servant of Jerobeam". As two kings with the same name, Jerobeam I and Jerobeam II, ruled the kingdom of Israel, it is believed that Shema was a high official of king Jerobeam II (8th Century BC). Shortly after its discovery, Schumacher presented the seal as a gift to the Ottoman sultan Abd-el Hamid II. Since then the "Seal of Shema" has mysteriously vanished, never to be seen again. A plaster copy was made prior to its handover to the sultan, preserving this beautiful piece of Biblical history for posterity.

5 Lirot

Regular-issue trade coin

Issued: 1978 - 1979

Catalog # 90

Alloy: cupro-nickel (copper 75%, nickel 25%)
Diameter: 30 mm
Weight: 11.2 gr
Edge : smooth

Date

Mintage

Remarks

Value USD

Heb.

Civil

Quantity

Mint

Unc.

5738

1978

8,350,000

Jerusalem

0.50

0.70

1.30

2.50

5739

1979

5,646,428

Jerusalem

0.50

0.70

1.30

2.50

5739

1979

32,000,000

Canberra

0.50

0.70

1.30

2.50

Details of Mints

Place

Name

Country

Name of Mint

Bern

Switzerland

Federal Mint Swissmint

Canberra

Australia

Royal Australian Mint

ICI

United Kingdom

Imperial Chemical Industries, Birmingham

Jerusalem

Israel

Government Printer -Israel Mint [from 1967]

Ottawa

Canada

Royal Canadian Mint [until 1975]

Tel Aviv

Israel

Government Printer -Israel Mint [until 1966]

Utrecht

Netherlands

's Rijks Munt (in 1994 renamed: Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt - Royal Dutch Mint)

Winnipeg

Canada

Royal Canadian Mint [from 1976]

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