100 New Sheqalim Yitzhak Ben-Zvi

Yitzhak Ben-Zvi was Israel's second and longest-serving president, holding office from 1952 until his death in 1963 — unusual for a head of state in that he lived in a modest wooden hut on the grounds of his Jerusalem residence rather than the official presidential mansion. His selection for the 100 New Sheqalim denomination was part of the 1986 series that replaced the hyperinflation-era sheqel, which had lost so much purchasing power by 1985 that the government was forced into a cold-turkey stabilization plan cutting three zeros from the currency overnight.

Zvi Narkiss, the engraver, was central to the visual identity of Israeli banknote production across multiple series. The print run of just over twelve million is on the lower end for a high-denomination note with a decade-long issue window.