Surprising Value: The Worth of a 50 Shekel Note with Ben Gurion's Portrait

We've all dreamed of getting rich easily, and sometimes we might think that the old money we stumble across at home could make us wealthy overnight.

Indeed, there are instances where rare coins are highly valuable even today, but those cases are extremely uncommon.

Is the value of old bills the same as these rare coins? Not exactly.

What might collectors pay for a 50 'new' shekel note with the portrait of then-Prime Minister David Ben Gurion? Collectors aren't eager to pay top dollar for old coins and notes unless they boast a unique feature that could also earn them a tidy profit.

Most 50 shekel notes with Ben Gurion's portrait aren't worth much today. To be exact, collectors might only pay about seven shekels for them.

But there's an exception to every rule.

If you've found such a note or are holding onto it hoping to cash in, this might be your chance: check if the note has two small green stripes under the amount.

If it does, you might be in for a windfall of 1,763 shekels, according to currency expert David Sharaf. In an interview with 'Mako,' Sharaf explained, "This note was printed in a very limited quantity in 1981 and was intended to prevent counterfeiting. Its value today stands at 1,763 shekels, and those who offer it at auction could earn even more."

According to Sharaf, there are two types of rare notes that pique collectors' interest: "One was printed with four black lines under the amount, and the other with two green stripes. These stripes were designed to allow the Bank of Israel to track the circulation of the currency. The note with the green stripes was printed in very low numbers and is highly sought after among collectors."

And what about a 100 shekel note? According to Sharaf, such a note or those featuring the portrait of Ze'ev Jabotinsky have an average value of 220 shekels today.