BANK OF ISRAEL
Office of the Spokesperson and Economic Information
December 14, 2015
Press Release
The second denomination in the new banknote series - the NIS 200 banknote - will
be distributed to the public beginning on Wednesday,
December 23, 2015 (11 Tevet 5776)
The Governor of the Bank of Israel announced today that beginning on Wednesday,
December 23, 2015, (11 Tevet 5776), the new NIS 200 banknote will be distributed to
the public. This is the second banknote of the new series of banknotes, and it will be
distributed through commercial bank tellers, automated teller machines, and Postal
company branches.
Remarks by the Governor of the Bank of Israel, Dr. Karnit Flug: “The launch of a new
banknote is a special event, for the Bank of Israel, the State, and for the public. The
fact that most of the public is confident in the trustworthiness of the banknotes in
circulation is not always self-evident. The new series of banknotes makes use of
advanced technology, and incorporates high standards of security, innovation, and
accessibility. I am proud that the new series of banknotes was planned and produced
with designated solutions for the blind and vision impaired.”
Remarks by the Director General of the Bank of Israel, Mr. Hezi Kalo: “The security
features are intended for the general public, and were planned that way—one does not
need to be an expert on banknotes in order to verify that they genuine. It is enough to
look for a moment at the golden book, the glittering stripe, or the watermark, to feel
the raised ink, or to see the menorah symbol when tilting the banknote. We call to the
public’s attention the prominent security features—secure by design.”
Description of the banknote:
Denomination:
Portrait (horizontal):
Dominant color:
Size:
Design on front of note:
Background pictures
Microtext
Design on back of note:
Background pictures
Text
Signs for the blind and vision
impaired:
Designer:
NIS 200
Nathan Alterman
Blue
150 x 71mm
Autumn leaves
Poem: “Eternal Meeting”
Moonlit flora
A segment from the poem “Morning poem”
Four pairs of lines at the lower margins of
the banknote, on the left and on the right, are
printed with raised transparent ink that is
discernible by touch.
Ms. Osnat Eshel
Bank of Israel - Distribution of new NIS 200 note (Dec. 2015)
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Information resources, including a short film, are available at this DropBox link (click
here).
Pictures of the banknote:
Front:
Back:
The banknotes in the new series have advanced standards of security, innovation, and
accessibility. The denominations differ in color and length, and they incorporate a
range of leading edge anti-counterfeiting security features, created through various
technologies. In addition, the new banknotes include designated features to aid the
blind and vision impaired.
The NIS 200 banknotes in use today, from Series B of the New Shekel, which entered
circulation in 1999, will continue to be legal tender for several years, and will be in
circulation in parallel with the new banknotes. When the older banknotes will be
deposited at the Bank of Israel, they will gradually be replaced with banknotes from
the new series.
The Bank of Israel has been working over recent months to inform and train the
companies and main entities using cash in the economy about the forthcoming entry
into circulation of the new banknotes and their manner of use. In addition, the Bank of
Israel supplied samples of the banknotes, in a timely fashion, to banks, importers of
automated machine mechanisms and to companies that operate those machines. The
Bank of Israel - Distribution of new NIS 200 note (Dec. 2015)
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samples were provided in order to calibrate and adjust the machines to the new
banknotes.
Automated machine operators that have not yet completed the process of adjusting the
machines to the new banknotes are required to do so as soon as possible.
A public information campaign will be launched today through the media. Within the
framework of the campaign, the public will receive detailed information about the new
banknote. Further information is available on the Bank of Israel website at
www.newbanknotes.org.il or by email contact_currency@boi.org.il, or by telephone
1-800-300-018.
Remarks by the Governor, Dr. Karnit Flug
The launch of the new banknote is without a doubt a special and festive event for the
Bank of Israel, the State and the public. We gathered here today to announce to the
citizens of Israel that they can expect the new NIS 200 banknote—a blue banknote
bearing the portrait of poet Nathan Alterman—soon. The NIS 200 banknote joins the
first of the new series—the NIS 50 banknote, bearing the portrait of Shaul
Tchernichovsky, which was launched in September 2014. Notice of the launch date of
the following two banknotes in the series, which are currently in preparation and
production stages, will be forthcoming.
The NIS 200 banknote will be launched to the public next Wednesday, December 23,
2015 (11 Tevet 5776), and will gradually be put into circulation as was done with the
NIS 50 banknote.
In view of technological developments over the years, and in view of the need to
protect the currency against counterfeits, the Bank of Israel prepared to protect the
banknotes and make them more resilient to counterfeits. This is the main reason for
replacing the series of banknotes in general, and the NIS 200 banknote in particular,
since this is the banknote with the highest denomination value and with the largest
number of banknotes in circulation.
Adjusting the banknote standards to meet the challenges of the coming years is a
complex and sensitive task that is entrusted to the Currency Department at the Bank of
Israel. The fact that most of the public is confident in the trustworthiness of the
banknotes in circulation is not always self-evident. As the central bank, we are
entrusted with the responsibility to make sure that Israeli citizens’ confidence that the
banknotes they hold are trustworthy is maintained. As such, we must plan, design and
issue banknotes that are usable, durable, and secure against counterfeiting. That is why,
roughly every 15 years, the Bank of Israel replaces the series of banknotes with a new
and more advanced series, representing high standards of security, innovation and
accessibility. Moreover, we make concerted efforts to make sure that the banknotes
and coins in Israel are also easy to use for the blind and vision impaired—a large and
important population group. I am proud that the new series of banknotes was planned
and produced with designated solutions for the blind and vision impaired.
The NIS 200 banknote, as with the other banknotes in the new series, incorporates
prominent security features among the most advanced of their kind, which make it very
difficult for criminals to counterfeit them, while making it very easy for the public to
discern them. We call on the public to get to know the security features, particularly in
the coming period following the launch of the banknote, and to make use of them:
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See the banknote, touch the banknote, tilt it.
The security features can be easily identified by the public. Particularly with the NIS
200 banknote, due to its high value, it is very important to examine them. That is the
message that we want to convey today to the general public, through the media and
through a public information campaign that is accessible in five languages. The public
information campaign accompanying the launch of the banknote focuses on the title
“Secure by Design”, in order to emphasize the importance of the public examining the
security features.
Before I conclude, I would like to emphasize that the Bank of Israel encourages, and
continues to promote, the development of advanced electronic means of payment.
Obviously, this does not take away from the importance of the banknotes and coins as
a main means of payment in the hands of the public, either in Israel or around the
world.
I would like to thank the Hon. Judge Jacob Turkel, who serves as Chair of the Public
Committee for the Planning of Banknotes, Coins and Commemorative Coins, the
banknotes’ designer Ms. Osnat Eshel, and all those who took part in the work. Special
thanks to the Director General of the Bank of Israel, and to the Currency Department,
for leading the project.
Remarks by the Director General, Mr. Hezi Kalo
In September 2014, we launched the new NIS 50 banknote, and today we are proud to
launch the second banknote in the new series, the NIS 200 banknote bearing the
portrait of Nathan Alterman.
This is a major milestone in the process of replacing the banknote series, which began
last year, particularly in light of the fact that the NIS 200 denomination is the most
common one in circulation, and there are 250 million such items (that is, banknotes) in
circulation.
From the perspective of the Bank of Israel, the Currency Department, and the entire
currency system, this has great importance, both in the terms of issuing and printing
the banknotes and in terms of the process of distributing the banknotes and replacing
them in circulation–a large quantity needs to be exchanged.
The NIS 200 banknote is distinct from the NIS 50 banknote not only in its design, in
the portrait of Alterman and in its blue color, but also in its size. The length of the NIS
200 banknote is 150 mm, compared with 136 mm for the NIS 50 banknote. This is in
order to make it easier for the blind and vision impaired. In addition, there are 4 pairs
of tactile lines on the margins, for use by those with vision impairments.
As noted, this is an additional major milestone in one of the most significant and
complex projects taken on by the Bank of Israel in recent years. I merited to be a part
in the process of launching the new series, which included several major stages—
beginning with the approval by the government in 2011 of the figures whose portraits
appear on the notes, through the public design competition that was held that same
year, approval by the Supervisory Council and the government of the figures and final
design in 2013, to the operative stages of planning the banknote, its specification,
design, and production—an especially intricate and complex process that takes several
years, not only in Israel but also in other advanced economies.
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As Director General of the Bank, I supported and worked to promote this important
project from its outset, alongside previous Governor Stanley Fischer and Governor
Flug, with the guiding principle being to continuously maintain the security of the
currency and protect it from counterfeits over time. The concern over counterfeit
banknotes exists worldwide, and is not unique to Israel. Due to the fact that advanced
central banks, including the Bank of Israel, work to update in advance the security
features incorporated into the banknotes, we are not facing a significant risk today to
the security of the currency.
We are aware that the launch of the new banknote is a change that requires some
getting used to by the public. This is why we chose a gradual process of natural
replacement of the banknotes, along with a broad professional information campaign
via a range of media and languages. This means that the public is not required at this
stage to rush to replace the banknotes in its possession. The replacement will take
place at a controlled pace by the Bank of Israel in coordination with the banking
system and the Postal Company.
The NIS 200 banknotes from Series B, which bear the portrait of former President
Zalman Shazar, remain in circulation for now, and their quantity will decline gradually
until the replacement process is completed.
We also worked this way with the launch of the NIS 50 into circulation, and to date
most of the banknotes in that denomination from the previous series have been
exchanged.
It is important to emphasize that the current series of banknotes, which is in
circulation, is safe for use. At a later stage, the Currency Department will notify the
public of the date on which the banknotes of the current series (Series B) will cease to
be legal tender, and we will also set the length of the period for exchanging the
banknotes, which will certainly not be less than 10 years, as it was with the exchange
of the previous series of banknotes.
There is always a concern that criminal elements will take advantage of the timing of
the entry of the new banknote into circulation and the public’s incomplete recognition
with the new banknote in order to attempt and distribute photos or reproductions of the
banknotes, produced through color printers or copiers. The public can easily protect
itself from such illegitimate activity by checking the security features incorporated into
the banknotes. The banknotes in the new series and the security features incorporated
into them have been exceptionally highly regarded and acclaimed at professional
international conferences on banknotes and protection against counterfeiting.
It is important to emphasize that the security features are intended for the general
public, and were planned that way—one does not need to be an expert on banknotes in
order to verify that they genuine. It is enough to look for a moment at the golden book,
the glittering stripe, or the watermark, to feel the raised ink, or to see the menorah
symbol when tilting the banknote. We call to the public’s attention the prominent
security features—secure by design.
The public is invited to learn about the new banknote at the Bank of Israel’s website,
or via the mobile application, or through the information brochures and media
advertisements. When needed, you can also call the telephone hotline with any
question that arises.
Bank of Israel - Distribution of new NIS 200 note (Dec. 2015)
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I would like to thank the professional department—the Currency Department—which
led this important project from its beginning with considerable responsibility and
professionalism, and I have no doubt that the Department will continue to lead it
successfully to its completion.
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