Palestine pound explained

Local Name1:جنيه فلسطيني
Local Name Lang1:ar
Local Name2:לירה ארץ-ישראלית
Local Name Lang2:he
Image 1:1 Palestine Pound 1939 Obverse.jpg
Image Title 1:A 1939 one Palestine pound note
Using Countries: (1 Nov 1927 – 15 May 1948)
(1 Nov 1927 – 25 May 1946)
Jordan (25 May 1946 – 30 September 1950)
Israel (15 May 1948 – 23 June 1952)
All-Palestine (22 September 1948 – April 1951)
West Bank (1 December 1948 – 30 September 1950)
Subunit Ratio 1:11000
Subunit Name 1:Mil
Symbol:£P or LP
Used Coins:1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100 mils, 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500 prutot
Used Banknotes:500 mils, £P1, £P5, £P10, £P50, £P100
Issuing Authority:Palestine Currency Board
Printer:Thomas De La Rue
Replaced Currency:Egyptian pound
(Mandatory Palestine)
Replaced By Currency:Jordanian dinar
(Jordan and West Bank)
Egyptian pound
(All-Palestine Protectorate)
Israeli pound
(Israel)
Obsolete:yes
Subunit Name 2:Prutah (from 1950 in Israel)
Subunit Ratio 2:11000

The Palestine pound (Arabic: جُنَيْه فِلَسْطَينِيّ, Arabic: junayh filastini; Hebrew: פוּנְט פַּלֶשְׂתִינָאִי (א״י)|funt palestina'i (eretz-yisra'eli) or Hebrew: לירה (א״י)|lira eretz-yisra'elit|link=no; Sign: £P[1] [2]) was the currency of the British Mandate of Palestine from 1 November 1927 to 14 May 1948, and of the State of Israel between 15 May 1948 and 23 June 1952, when it was replaced with the Israeli pound.

The Palestine pound was also the currency of Transjordan until 1949 when it was replaced by the Jordanian dinar, and remained in usage in the West Bank of Jordan until 1950. In the Gaza Strip, the Palestine pound continued to circulate until April 1951, when it was replaced back with the Egyptian pound.

History

Until 1918, Palestine was an integral part of the Ottoman Empire and therefore used its currency, the Ottoman lira. During 1917 and 1918, Palestine was occupied by the British army, who set up a military administration. The official currency was the Egyptian pound, which had been first introduced into Egypt in 1834, but several other currencies were legal tender at fixed exchange rates that were vigorously enforced.[3] [4] After the establishment of a civil administration in 1921, the High Commissioner Herbert Samuel ordered that from 22 January 1921 only Egyptian currency and the British gold sovereign would be legal tender.[5]

In 1926, the British Secretary of State for the Colonies appointed a Palestine Currency Board to introduce a local currency.[6] It was based in London and chaired by P. G. Ezechiel, with a Currency Officer resident in Palestine.[6] The board decided that the new currency would be called the Palestine pound, 1:1 with sterling and divided into 1,000 mils.[7] The £P1 gold coin would contain 123.27447 grains of standard gold.[7] The enabling legislation was the Palestine Currency Order, 1927, signed by the King in February 1927.[8] The Palestine pound became legal tender on 1 November 1927.[9] The Egyptian pound (at the fixed rate of £P1 = £E0.975) and the British gold sovereign remained legal tender until 1 March 1928.[8] [10]

The Palestine Currency Order explicitly excluded Transjordan from its application, but the Government of Transjordan decided to adopt the Palestine pound at the same time as Palestine did.[11] [12] The Egyptian pound remained legal tender in Transjordan until 1930.[13]

All the denominations were trilingual in Arabic, English and Hebrew. The Hebrew inscription included after "Palestina" the initials Aleph Yud, for "Eretz Yisrael" (Land of Israel).

The Currency Board was dissolved in May 1948, with the end of the British Mandate, but the Palestinian pound continued in circulation for transitional periods:

Since the mid-1980s, the primary currencies used in the West Bank have been the shekel and the Jordanian dinar.[14] The shekel is used for most transactions, especially retail, while the dinar is used more for savings and durable goods transactions.[15] The US dollar is also sometimes used for savings and for purchasing foreign goods. The dollar is used by the overwhelming majority of transactions overseen by the Palestinian Monetary Authority (Palestine's nascent central bank), which only represent a fraction of all transactions conducted in Palestine or by Palestinians.[16]

The shekel is the main currency in Gaza.[17] [18] Under Egyptian rule (1948–1956), Gaza mainly used the Egyptian pound.[19] [20] When Israel occupied the Gaza Strip during the 1956 Suez Crisis, the military administration made the Israeli lira (the predecessor to the shekel) the only legal currency in Gaza in a 3 December decree, and implemented a favorable exchange rate to remove all Egyptian pounds from circulation. As a result, the lira and then the shekel became the dominant currency in Gaza, a situation that was reinforced in 1967 by the Israeli occupation of Gaza following the Six-Day War.[21]

Under Article IV of the Protocol on Economic Relations, the Palestinians are not allowed to independently introduce a separate Palestinian currency.[22] [23] At the same time, the use of two currencies increases the costs and inconvenience arising from fluctuating exchange rates.

Coins

In 1927, coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 mils. The 1 and 2 mil were struck in bronze, whilst the 5, 10 and 20 mil were holed, cupro-nickel coins, except for during World War II, when they were also minted in bronze. The coin of 10 mils was also called a grush. The 50 and 100 mil coins were struck in .720 silver.

The last coins were issued for circulation in 1946, with all 1947 dated coins being melted down.

Palestine pound Coinage
Issued by the Palestine currency Board
Image Value Technical parameters Description Date of first issueDated years of issue
Diameter Mass Composition Edge Obverse Reverse
1 mil21 mm3.23 gBronzePlain"Palestine" in Arabic, English, and Hebrew,
year of minting.In Hebrew; also mentions in the acronym (א״י) for Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel).
Value in Arabic, English, and Hebrew,
olive sprig
19271927, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946
2 mils28 mm7.77 g1927, 1941, 1942, 1945, 1946
5 mils20 mm2.91 gCupro-nickelValue in Arabic, English, and Hebrew1927, 1934, 1935, 1939, 1941, 1946
5 mils20 mm2.9Bronze19421942, 1944
10 mils27 mm6.47 gCupro-nickel19271927, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1946
10 mils27 mm6.47Bronze19421942, 1943
20 mils30.5 mm11.33 gCupro-nickel19271927, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1940, 1941
20 mils30.5 mm11.3Bronze19421942, 1944
50 mils23.6 mm5.83 g720‰ SilverReeded"Palestine" in Arabic, English, and Hebrew,
year of minting, olive sprig. In Hebrew; also mentions in the acronym (א״י) for Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel).
19271927, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1939, 1940, 1942, 1943
100 mils29 mm11.66 g
Issued by the State of Israel
ImageValueTechnical parametersDescriptionDate of first issueDated years of issue
DiameterMassCompositionEdgeObverseReverse
1 pruta[24] 21 mm1.3 gAluminumPlainAnchor; "Israel" in Hebrew and Arabic.

The design is based on a coin of Alexander Jannaeus (76-103 BCE).

The denomination "1 Pruta" and the date in Hebrew; two stylized olive branches around the rim.25 October 19505709 (1949)
5 pruta20 mm3.2 gBronzeFour-stringed lyre; "Israel" in Hebrew and Arabic.

The design is based on a coin from the Bar-Kochba Revolt (132-135CE).

The denomination "5 Pruta" and the date in Hebrew; two stylized olive branches around the rim.28 December 1950
10 pruta27 mm6.1gTwo-handled amphora; "Israel" in Hebrew and Arabic.

The design is based on a coin from the Bar-Kochba Revolt (132-135CE).

The denomination "10 Pruta" and the date in Hebrew; two stylized olive branches around the rim.4 January 1950
25 mil30 mm3.8 gAluminumCluster of grapes, based on coins struck during the Bar-Kochba Revolt (132-135 CE); "Israel" in Hebrew above and in Arabic below.The denomination "25 Mil" in Hebrew and Arabic; date in Hebrew below; two stylized olive branches around, based on coins struck during the Bar-Kochba Revolt (132-135 CE).6 April 19495708 (1948),5709 (1949)
25 pruta19.5 mm2.8 gCupro-nickelReededValue and date in Hebrew within wreath.4 January 19505709 (1949)
50 pruta23.5 mm5.69 gA Branch of Grape Leaves.Value and date within wreath made up of two stylized olive branches that for a circle around perimeter.11 May 1949
100 pruta28.5 mm11.3 gDate palm tree with seven branches and two bunches of dates. Country name is listed in Hebrew and Arabic.Value and date in Hebrew within wreath of stylized olive branches.25 May 1949
250 pruta32.2 mm14.1 gThree palm branches; "Israel" in Hebrew and Arabic.

The design is based on a coin minted during the Great Revolt (66 - 70 CE).

The denomination "250 Pruta" and the date in Hebrew; two stylized olive branches around the rim.11 October 1950

Banknotes

On 1 November 1927, banknotes were introduced by the Palestine Currency Board in denominations of 500 mils, £P1, £P5, £P10, £P50 and £P100. Notes were issued with dates as late as 15 August 1945.[25]

Palestine pound Banknotes
Issued by the Palestine currency Board
Image Value Dimensions[26] Main Colour Description Date of first issue Quantity circulated at the end of the Mandate
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse Watermark
500 mils127 × 76 mmPurpleRachel's TombCitadel and Tower of DavidOlive sprig1 September 19271,872,811
£P1166 × 89 mmYellowish greenDome of the Rock9,413,578
£P5191 × 102 mm RedTower of Ramla3,909,230
£P10Blue2,004,128
£P50Purple20,577
£P100Green1,587
"Palestine" in Arabic, English, and Hebrew. In Hebrew; also mentions in the acronym (א״י) for Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel).
Issued by the Anglo-Palestine Bank (State of Israel)
ImageValueDimensionsMain ColourDescriptionDate of
ObverseReverseObverseReverseIssueCeased to be legal tender
500 mils148 x 72 mmGrey-pinkGuilloches; the denomination and "The Anglo-Palestine Bank Limited" in Hebrew and English.Guilloches; the denomination and "The Anglo-Palestine Bank Limited" in Arabic and English.18 August 194823 June 1952
£P1100 x 75 mmBlue-green
£P5105 x 68 mmBrown
£P10150 x 80 mmRed
£P50159 x 84 mmViolet

The £P100 note was equivalent to 40 months’ wages of a skilled worker in Palestine.[27] At the end of 1947, five months before the end of the British Mandate, there were 1,590 £P100 notes in circulation, out of a total circulation of £P40.6 million in notes and £P1.5 million in coins.[28]

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. As depicted on a revenue stamp issued under the Mandate.
  2. As depicted on a Barclays cheque
  3. Egyptian Expeditionary Force, The Palestine News, March 7, 1918, p2. Turkish coins but not Turkish notes were legal. In January, a resident of Jerusalem was sentenced to 3 months' hard labour for selling a French Napoleon for 92.5 piastres instead of the regulation 77.15 piastres.
  4. Egyptian Expeditionary Force, A Guide-Book to Central Palestine, August 1918, p106.
  5. Official Gazette of the Government of Palestine, No. 36, 1 February 1921, p13.
  6. Official Gazette of the Government of Palestine, No. 170, 1 September 1926, pp447–449. http://jpress.nli.org.il/Olive/APA/NLI/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=PLB%2F1926%2F09%2F03&id=Ar00200&sk=B2833644
  7. Official Gazette of the Government of Palestine, No. 182, 1 March 1927, pp131–134.
  8. Official Gazette of the Government of Palestine, No. 193, 16 August 1927, pp590–592.
  9. Official Gazette of the Government of Palestine, No. 196, 1 October 1927, p679.
  10. Official Gazette of the Government of Palestine, No. 205, 16 February 1928, p94, and No. 206, 1 March 1928, p114.
  11. Book: Howard M. Berlin . The Coins and Banknotes of Palestine Under the British Mandate, 1927-1947 . 2015 . 22 . McFarland.
  12. http://jpress.nli.org.il/Olive/APA/NLI/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=PLB%2F1928%2F12%2F10&id=Ar00103&sk=B7B127AD Palestine Currency Board, Report for the period ending 1st March 1928
  13. Book: Howard M. Berlin. World Monetary Units: An Historical Dictionary, Country by Country . 85 . McFarland . 2015.
  14. News: 0190-8286 . Zacharia . Janine . Palestinian officials think about replacing Israeli shekel with Palestine pound . 2018-08-22 . 2010-05-31 . The Washington Post.
  15. Book: Cobham, David . Routledge . 9780415327619 . David Cobham . Nu'man Kanafani . The Economics of Palestine: Economic Policy and Institutional Reform for a Viable Palestine State . Alternative currency arrangements for a new Palestinian state . London . 2004-09-15 . 2018-08-22.
  16. Web site: Lauria. Joe. Getting Money in Gaza: An Interview With Palestine's Central Banker. Huffington Post. 2018-08-22. 2014-08-09.
  17. Web site: Palestinian Territories > Gaza Strip > Currency . Lonely Planet . 22 August 2018.
  18. News: استبدال العملات التالفة وإدخال الفكة و15 مليون دولار لغزة . 22 August 2018 . سوا: وكالة انباء فلسطينية مستقدمة . 25 June 2018.
  19. Book: Filiu, Jean-Pierre . Oxford University Press . 9780190201913 . Gaza: A History . 123 . 22 August 2018 . 2014-08-14.
  20. News: حلقات الحصار تشتدّ.. أزمة السيولة النقدية تُطيح باقتصاد غزة . 22 August 2018 . الخليج اونلين . 31 May 2018.
  21. News: Abu Amer . Ahmad . Israel tightens financial noose on Gaza . 22 August 2018 . Al-Monitor . 2 July 2018.
  22. http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/peace/guide/pages/gaza-jericho%20agreement%20annex%20iv%20-%20economic%20protoco.aspx Annex IV - Protocol on Economic Relations between the Government of the State of Israel and the P.L.O., representing the Palestinian people
  23. Naqib . Fadle M. . October 2002 . Economic Aspects of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict . UNU World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU/WIDER) . 13 . Discussion Paper No. 2002/100 . 22 August 2018 . 1609-5774 .
  24. Web site: Bank of Israel - Past Notes & Coins Series - Past Notes & Coin Series. www.boi.org.il. 2017-11-30.
  25. Book: Linzmayer . Owen . The Banknote Book . Palestine . www.BanknoteNews.com . 2012 . San Francisco, CA .
  26. Palestine Gazette, March 1, 1927, p134
  27. Book: Berlin, Howard M. The coins and banknotes of Palestine under the British mandate, 1927-1947. McFarland. Jefferson. 2001. 71. 978-0786408795.
  28. Palestine Currency Board, Statement of Coins and Notes in Circulation at the 31st December, 1947. The Palestine Gazette No. 1644, January 29, 1948, p. 72.