Legal Tender fractional banknote, 50 prutah, [1952]. Pick# 9. Red, black back. Signatures of Kaplan-Zagagi. AU-UNC. Slight fold to lower left corner. During the early years of the State of Israel (1948-1952), the Treasury printed paper currency to compensate for the severe shortage of metal coins. The first series was signed solely by Finance Minister Eliezer Kaplan, and subsequent series were signed by the finance minister (Elizer Kaplan and later Levi Eshkol) and the accountant general (Mordechai Zagagi and later, Avraham Ne'eman).