View source for Israeli agora

{{Short description|Denomination of currency}}
{{About|coins used in Israel||agora (disambiguation)}}

{{Coin image box 1 double
| header = 10 Agorot
| image = File:10 Agorot (1960).jpg
| caption_left = '''Obverse''': Date palm tree. Lettering ישראל in [[w:Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and اسرائيل in [[w:Arabic|Arabic]] languages.
| caption_right = '''Reverse''': Denomination and lettering אגורות תשכ״ב in Hebrew.
| width = 250
| footer = Total 247,874,000 coins minted from 1960 to 1977.
| position = right
| margin = 0
}}

<!--
I don't see a need to display as many as three pictures at the top, when there are already many pictures in the article.

[[Image:Agorot.png|250px|right|thumb| 1, 5, and 10 agorot coins]]
-->The '''Agora''' ({{IPAc-en|æ|ɡ|ə|ˈ|r|ɑː}}; plural '''Agorot''' {{IPAc-en|-|ˈ|r|ɒ|t}};<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Chambers Dictionary|publisher=Chambers|year=2003|isbn=0-550-10105-5|edition=9th|chapter=agora{{sup|2}}}}</ref> {{langx|he|אגורה}}, {{abbr|pl|plural}}. {{Script/Hebrew|אגורות}}, ''{{Transliteration|he|agorot}}'') is a [[Denomination (currency)|denomination]] of the [[currency]] of [[Israel]]. The Israeli currency – the [[Israeli new shekel]] (ILS)– is divided into 100 agorot.<!--

[[File:1-New-Agora-aluminium-hatasham-RJP.jpg|right|thumb|One new agora, from the [[old Israeli shekel]] series]]

{{clear}}
-->

==History==
The name ''agora'' refers to the subunits of three distinct Israeli currencies.

This name was used for the first time in 1960, when the Israeli government decided to change the subdivision of the [[Israeli pound]] ({{langx|he|לירה}}, ''lira'') from 1,000 [[Israeli pruta|prutah]] to 100 agorot due to the currency's depreciation.<ref>Banknotes and Coins of Israel: 1927–2006, Yigal Arkin, Bank of Israel, Currency Dept., 2006, p.91</ref> The name was suggested by the [[Academy of the Hebrew Language]], and was borrowed from the Hebrew [[Bible]]:
{{Text and translation
| וְהָיָה כָּל-הַנּוֹתָר בְּבֵיתְךָ יָבוֹא לְהִשְׁתַּחֲו‍ֹת לוֹ לַ'''אֲגוֹרַת''' כֶּסֶף וְכִכַּר-לָחֶם
| ...every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a '''piece''' of silver and a loaf of bread...
| ''I Samuel'' 2:36
}}

The term "piece of silver" appears in Hebrew as "'''''agorat''' kessef''".

In 1980 the Israeli pound was replaced by the [[Old Israeli shekel|shekel]] at a rate of IL10 per IS&nbsp;1. The new subdivision of the shekel was named ''agora ẖadaša'' ("new agora"). There were 100 new agorot in 1 shekel. The high rate of inflation in Israel in the early 1980s forced the Israeli government to change the Israeli currency once again in 1985. The [[new Israeli shekel|new shekel]] was introduced at a rate of 1000 S per 1 NS. The name agora was used once again for its subdivision. This time the term "new" was avoided, in order to prevent confusion with the older subdivision (the pre-1980 agora was long since out of circulation).
Currently, the term agora refers to the 100th part of the new shekel. There are coins of 10 and 50 agorot, though the 50 agorot coin bears the inscription: "{{frac|1|2}} New Shekel".

The 1 agora coin was [[Withdrawal of low-denomination coins|withdrawn from circulation]] on April 1, 1991 by the [[Bank of Israel]],<ref>The Numismatist, American Numismatic Association, 1993, p.886</ref> as was the 5 agorot coin on January 1, 2008; in each case the value had shrunk to much less than the cost of production. [[Cash rounding]] has since been applied for purchases, such that the total price is now rounded to the nearest multiple of 10 agorot for payment in cash, but to 1 agora for payment by other means like [[payment card]]s or [[cheque]]s.

== Issues ==

=== Israeli pound ===
{| class="wikitable" align="center" style="font-size: 90%"
|+<big></big><big></big>
! width="25%" rowspan=2| '''Image''' !! width="5%"rowspan=2| '''Value''' !! colspan="3" | '''Technical parameters'''
! colspan="2" |'''Description''' !! colspan="2" | '''Date of'''
|-
! width="5%" |'''Diameter (mm)'''
! width="7%" |'''Mass (g)'''
! width="23%" |'''Composition'''
! width="20%" |'''Obverse'''
! width="5%" |'''Reverse'''
! width="5%" |'''Issue'''
! width="5%" |'''Withdrawal'''
|-
| align="center" |[[file:1-Agora-hatashlad-RJP.jpg|frameless]]
| 1 agora
| align="center" | 20
| align="center" | 1.03
|[[aluminium]] 97%, [[magnesium]] 3%
| Three ears of [[barley]], "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
| rowspan="5" | Value, date
| rowspan="4" align="center" | 01.01.1960
| rowspan="4" align="center" | 22.02.1980
|-
| align="center" |[[file:Israel 5 agorot 1960 Obverse & Reverse.gif|frameless]]
| 5 agorot
| align="center" | 17.5
| align="center" | 2.30 (copper)  0.8 (alum.)
|1960—1975: [[copper]] 92%, [[aluminium]] 6%, [[nickel]] 2%
1976—1979: [[aluminium]] 97%, [[magnesium]] 3%
|Three [[pomegranate]]s, "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
|-
| align="center" |[[file:Israel 10 agorot 1960 Obverse & Reverse.gif|frameless]]
| 10 agorot
| align="center" | 21.5
| align="center" | 4.15 (copper)  1.55 (alum.)
|1960—1977: [[copper]] 92%, [[aluminium]] 6%, [[nickel]] 2%
1978—1979: [[aluminium]] 97%, [[magnesium]] 3%
|Palm tree, "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
|-
| align="center" |[[file:25-Agorot-hatashlag-RJP.jpg|frameless]]
| 25 agorot
| align="center" | 25.5
| align="center" | 6.5
|[[copper]] 92%, [[aluminium]] 6%, [[nickel]] 2%
|[[Kinnor]] ([[lyre]]-like musical instrument), "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
|-
| align="center" |[[file:Israel half pound 1963 Obverse & Reverse.gif|frameless]]
|IL{{frac|2}}
| align="center" | 24.5
| align="center" | 6.8
| [[copper]] 75%, [[nickel]] 25%
| The [[Emblem of Israel|state emblem]], "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[English language|English]]
| align="center" | 12.09.1963
| align="center" | 31.03.1984
|}

===Old Israeli shekel ===

{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
|+Old shekel coins  
|-
! width="25%" rowspan=2| '''Image''' !! width="5%"rowspan=2| '''Value''' !! colspan="3" | '''Technical parameters'''
! colspan="2" |'''Description''' !! colspan="2" | '''Date of'''
|-
! width="5%" |'''Diameter (mm)'''
! width="7%" |'''Mass (g)'''
! width="23%" |'''Composition'''
! width="20%" |'''Obverse'''
! width="5%" |'''Reverse'''
! width="5%" |'''Issue'''
! width="5%" |'''Withdrawal'''
|- 
|[[File:1-New-Agora-aluminium-hatasham-RJP.jpg|frameless]]
|{{nowrap|1 new agora}}
| align="center" | 15
| align="center" | 0.6
| rowspan="2" |[[aluminium]] 97%, magnesium 3%
| Palm tree, "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
|rowspan=3| Value, date
| rowspan="4" | 24.02.1980<br />
| rowspan="4" |04.09.1986
|- 
|[[File:Israel 5 New Agorot 1980 Obverse & Reverse.gif|frameless]]
| 5 new agorot
| align="center" | 18.5
| align="center" | 0.9
|The [[Emblem of Israel|state emblem]], "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[English language|English]]
|- 
|[[File:Israel 10 New Agorot 1980 Obverse & Reverse.gif|frameless]]
|{{nowrap|10 new agorot}}
| align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 2.1
|[[copper]] 92%, [[nickel]] 8%
|Three pomegranates, the [[Emblem of Israel|state emblem]], "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[English language|English]]
|- 
|[[File:0.5-Shekel-hatasham-RJP.jpg|frameless]]
|IS{{frac|1|2}}
| align="center" | 20
| align="center" | 3
| [[copper]] 75%, [[nickel]] 25%
| Lion, the [[Emblem of Israel|state emblem]], "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[English language|English]]
| Value, date, two stars

|}
* Note that all dates on Israeli coins are given in the [[Hebrew calendar]] and are written in [[Hebrew numerals]].

=== Israeli new shekel===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%"
|+ New shekel coin series
|-
!rowspan=2| '''Image''' !! rowspan=2| '''Value''' !!colspan=4| '''Technical parameters''' !!colspan=3| '''Description''' !!colspan=2| '''Date of'''
|-
! '''Diameter''' !! '''Thickness''' !! '''Mass''' !! '''Composition''' !! '''Edge''' !! '''Obverse''' !! '''Reverse''' !! '''Issue''' !! '''Withdrawal'''
|- 
| [[file:Israel 1 Agora 1985 Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]]
| {{nowrap|1 agora}}
| 17&nbsp;mm
| 1.2&nbsp;mm
| 2 g
|rowspan=4| [[Aluminium bronze]]<br />92% [[copper]]<br />6% [[aluminium]]<br />2% [[nickel]]
|rowspan=4| Plain
| Ancient [[galley]], the [[Emblem of Israel|state emblem]], "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[English language|English]]
|rowspan=3| Value, date
|rowspan=4| 4 September 1985
| 1 April 1991
|- 
| [[file:Israel 5 Agorot 1985 Edge, Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]]
| 5 agorot<!--sic-->
| 19.5&nbsp;mm
| 1.3&nbsp;mm
| 3 g
| Replica of a coin from the fourth year of the [[First Jewish–Roman War|war of the Jews against Rome]] depicting a [[lulav]] between two [[etrog]]im, the [[Emblem of Israel|state emblem]], "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[English language|English]]
| 1 January 2008
|- 
| [[file:Israel 10 Agorot 1985 Edge, Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]]
| {{nowrap|10 agorot}}/
₪{{frac|1|10}}<!--sic-->
| 22&nbsp;mm
| 1.5&nbsp;mm
| 4 g
| Replica of a coin issued by [[Antigonus II Mattathias]] with the [[Menorah (Temple)|seven-branched candelabrum]], the [[Emblem of Israel|state emblem]], "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[English language|English]]
|rowspan=2| Current
|- 
| [[file:Israel Half New Sheqel 1985 Edge, Obverse & Reverse.jpg|250px]]
| {{nowrap|50 agorot/ ₪{{frac|1|2}}}}
| 26&nbsp;mm
| 1.6&nbsp;mm
| 6.5 g
| [[Lyre]], the [[Emblem of Israel|state emblem]]
| Value, date, "Israel" in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[English language|English]]

|}
* Note that all dates on Israeli coins are given in the [[Hebrew calendar]] and are written in [[Hebrew numerals]].

==See also==
* [[10 agorot controversy]]

{{Historical currencies of Israel}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.bankisrael.gov.il/catal/cataloge.htm Bank of Israel catalogue of Israeli currency since 1948] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217164825/http://bankisrael.gov.il/catal/cataloge.htm |date=2009-02-17 }}
* [http://colnect.com/en/coins/list/country/1873/sort/by_catalog_code/name/agora Israeli Agora coins with pictures]

[[Category:Currencies of Israel|Agora]]