Shkalim

(click to big)

Transparent watercolor on arches cp140

17.5x13cm (approx. 5"x7")

This is a painting from the Web Group I just joined "Every Day Matters". I have only just joined and am not sure of how things work on this group, so this is a trial run, of sorts. A new subject is posted every week. I am jumping in in the middle with last week's assignment #191: Draw some paper money. Maybe I will work backwards, too, but I want to work on what everyone else is working on so I can see how other people handle the subject and maybe learn something along the way.

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For more info, see Karen Winters' blog: http://www.karensblog.com/

EDM's: http://karenwinters.com/kblog/edm-challenge-list/

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The Israeli New Sheqel (שקל חדש, sheqel ḥadash, abbr. NIS; symbol: ₪; also spelled unofficially shekel; pl. sheqalim or unofficially shkalim - שקלים is the currency of Israel.

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When I came to Israel in 2003, I could get 5 sheqel for every American dollar I had. As of today I can only get about 3.50 for each dollar, (which is very bad for people whose savings are in dollars.)

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The first known usage of the sheqel is from Mesopotamia around 3000 BC.

Here is a photo of an old one:

Undated issue (year 3 - 134/5 CE). Bar Kokhba's Tetradrakhm/Shekel/Sela. Obverse: the Temple facade with the rising star. Reverse: A lulav, the text reads: "Year one of the redemption of Israel"