1/2 New Sheqel Independence, Piedfort

Israel's piedfort issues are struck at double the standard planchet thickness — this one commemorating the 50th anniversary of independence in 1998. Piedforts have no circulation function; they exist purely as collector artifacts, a French minting tradition Israel adopted for its commemorative program. The aluminium bronze composition, unusual for a piedfort, mirrors the circulating half-sheqel rather than being upgraded to silver, which keeps this piece somewhat outside the typical collector hierarchy for the series.