Israeli pruta

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The Pruta (Hebrew: פרוטה, plural: prutot) was a denomination of currency in Israel prior to 1960.

The pruta was introduced shortly after the establishment of the state, as the 1000th part of the Israeli pound. It replaced the mil, which was the 1000th part of the Palestinian pound, a currency issued by the British Mandate of Palestine prior to May 1948.

The word Pruta was borrowed from Mishnaic Hebrew, in which it meant "a coin of smaller value." This word was probably derived originally from an Aramaic word with the same meaning. The Pruta was abolished in 1960 when the Israeli government decided to change the subdivision of the Israeli pound into 100 agorot. This move was necessary due to the constant devaluation of the Israeli pound, which rendered coins smaller than 10 prutot redundant.

This pruta should not be confused with the halachic pruta, which is the minimal value of money for a variety of halachic applications. Among them, the minimal value one is obligated to return if stolen, the minimal value needed to effect a marriage, and the minimal investment needed to be considered an investor (it is equivalent to 0.22grams of pure silver).

v • d • e Historical currencies of Israel      Main unit Palestinian pound May–August 1948 Israeli lira 1948–1980 Sheqel 1980–1985 New sheqel 1985–present Subunit 1/1000 = mil 1/1000 = pruta 1948–1960 1/100 = agora 1960–1980 1/100 = new agora 1/100 = agora