5 Pounds 1955, Israel
| in Krause book | Number: 26a |
| Years of issue: | 27.10.1955 |
| Edition: | |
| Signatures: | Governor of the Bank: Mr. David Horowitz; Chairman of the Advisory Council: Mr. S. Hoofien |
| Serie: | The first series of Israeli lira 1955 |
| Specimen of: | 27.10.1955 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 140 x 78 |
| Printer: | TDLR (Thomas de la Rue & Company), London |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
Description
Watermark:
Seven-branched candelabrum with an imprint of irises (menorah).
Avers:
Negev landscape with a settlement and agricultural work in Arava Valley (Negev desert).
The Negev is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The region's largest city and administrative capital is Beersheba, in the north. At its southern end is the Gulf of Aqaba and the resort city of Eilat. It contains several development towns, including Dimona, Arad and Mitzpe Ramon, as well as a number of small Bedouin cities, including Rahat and Tel as-Sabi. There are also several kibbutzim, including Revivim and Sde Boker; the latter became the home of Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, after his retirement from politics.
On the front side of the banknote artist depicted the Edom Mountains, which border the eastern Negev.
Scene of agricultural work in Arava Valley (Negev desert). Presumably, the engraving on banknote is made after this image.
Now, more specifically about the tractor with a plow.
I was interested to determine, approximately, the model of tractor depicted on banknote. Of course, this idea, at first glance, looks unrealistic, as it depicted "from behind" and is quite small in size. But no harm in trying, and I wrote about this in several museums of classic tractors worldwide.
It turned out that even today there are people, who were interested in my "investigation".
I received an answers from the museum in Westlock, Alberta, Canada (Canadian Tractor Museum) and museum in Leesburg, Florida, USA (Paquette's Historical Farmall Tractor Museum).
By joint consultation, and my search for old archival photos about agricultural works in Israel in late 1940s - early 1950s, I came to the following conclusion:
On the bill (presumably!!!) is one of the following two models of tractors:
Caterpillar D-2 with plough in kibbutz Negba, in Negev desert, Israel.
This honored tractor now stands as a monument in kibbutz Negba, Israel. It was the first tractor with a plow, which was brought to the kibbutz in the Negev Desert, and plowed the first furrow on these lands in the late 1930s.
Most likely, the engraver used on banknote the collective image of the tractor, and did not assume that someone will attempt to determine its model. But any collective image is still based on the existing factors.
The assumption that it could be this model emerged for several reasons:
1) Monument to first, brought to Negev, tractor.
2) A certain visual similarity, even when viewed from the rear, with banknotes image.
3) Description of the model says, that it was lightweight, compact tractor, which is important for transportation.
"Caterpillar D-2" is a tractor manufactured by Caterpillar. It was introduced in 1938 and was the smallest diesel powered track-type tractor manufactured by Caterpillar.
The "Caterpillar D-2" was manufactured by Caterpillar Inc. in the factory that was located in Peoria, Illinois, USA. It stopped being manufactured in the year of 1957. The base frame of this model of tractor is a crawler. The weight of the "Caterpillar D-2" ranges from about 7420 to 8536 pounds depending upon the year it was manufactured. There are 5 forward gears and 1 reverse gear. Caterpillar manufactured a total of 26,454 D2 model tractors. Caterpillar began manufacturing new tractors, including the D2 model, in response to the "New Deal" programs that were initiated by President Franklin Roosevelt to stimulate America's economy.
The cab was not manufactured by a company and was, likely, added on and built by the owner.
I would also like to say a big thanks to the girl from this livejournal (p-krysa.livejournal.com) for the photo. I deliberately chose her photo (although there are a few pictures of the network), so that the solar flare in the center of it is coming to the Negev desert and the warm Israel:).
Option number 2:
Tractor "International Harvester TD-14" with plough in kibbutz Kfar Masaryk, Northern Israel.
The assumption is made for the following reasons:
1) I found a photo from archive, made near 1949, in Kibbutz Kfar Masaryk with the image of this model "International Harvester". Despite the fact, that the kibbutz is located on the other side of the country - in the north of Israel (not in the Negev on south), these models are widely used across the country in the early 1950s.
2) A certain visual similarity, even when viewed from the rear, with banknotes image.
"International Harvester TD-14".
Factory: Melrose Park, Illinois, USA.
Were produced from 1939 till 1949.
Total built (pieces):
1939 74
1940 1470
1941 1811
1942 1524
1943 2071
1944 3277
1945 1976
1946 1733
1947 6583
1948 2335
1949 3404
Всего: 26141
Type: Diesel, 6-speed crawler with 2 rear gears.
Weight: 17500 lbs. (7938 kg.)
Have changeable grill on front (as add on). The unit in the picture has an additional grill guard, which was an option with the tractor at the time. The cab was not manufactured by a company and was, likely, added on and built by the owner. (tractors.wikia.com)
To my question about the model of tractor responded several firms. More specifically:
1) Miss Cassandra and Mr. Rod, from "Canadian Tractor Museum" in Westlock, Alberta, Canada
2) Mr. Pieter L. van Ewijk, General Manager of "Coyote Flats Pioneer Village", Canada
3) Mr. J. Stewart Paquette, the owner of "Paquette's Historical Farmall Tractor Museum" in Leesburg, FL., USA
4) And, the last was Mr. Jeff Huff, the owner of "Huff Equipment Co.", Honeoye, New York, USA.
They all mentioned different models of International Harvester, based on my photo.
For assistance in determining this model, especially thanks to Mr. Jeff Huff. Here is his website - www.huffequipment.com.
Most of all I was convinced by him, because he wrote me that:
"Hello Oleg,
I believe I am correct that the unit is a TD-14. The TD-9 had one oil filter on the right rear side and four (4) bottom rollers as standard. The TD-18 had two (2) exhaust pipes and one (1) air cleaner pipe, all went up through the hood. The oil filters were on the left front side of the engine.
The TD-24 had the same exhaust and air cleaner system as the TD-18. The track roller frames are solid and flat sided. TD-24 started production at the end of 1947. The TD-14 had the air cleaner body behind the engine below the hood. The TD-14 also had five (5) bottom rollers standard and thirty six track shoes. You can count the track shoes or the track pins in the pictures. Thank You".
In any case, I am very grateful to everyone, who responded to my question and did not ignore it.
Also an iris flower is in top right corner.
Iris germanica, the German Iris. It is a species in the genus iris. Growing up to 90 cm. tall and 10 cm. in width. Blossoms in May-August.
The denomination "Five Israeli Pounds" and "Bank of Israel" in Hebrew.
Revers:
An abstract design; the denomination "Five Israeli Pounds" and "Bank of Israel" in Arabic and English.
Comments:
First own money the state of Israel. At the initiative of the first Governor of the Bank of Israel David Horowitz, and with the assistance of a special committee chaired by S.Hufien, developed the first series of Israeli banknotes. The Committee decided to use in the design of banknotes the Israeli landscapes. The design of banknotes was entrusted by the artists of TDLR (banknotes were printed at its factory).
Put into circulation on October 27, 1955.
Withdrawn March 31, 1984.
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