5 Sheqalim Piedfort Set Issue, with Star of David

Piedfort issues from the Bank of Israel in this period were produced specifically for collectors as the country navigated one of the worst hyperinflationary episodes of the 20th century — annual inflation exceeded 400% by 1984, effectively destroying the circulation value of denominations like this within months of issue. The irony of a double-thickness collector piece being struck in a currency that was losing half its value every few months was not lost on contemporary observers.

The sheqel itself was replaced by the new sheqel in 1985 at a ratio of 1,000 to 1, making this set a document of a currency in terminal decline.