The New Israeli Sheqel symbol, introduced as a part of the 1985 monetary reforms, is a stylized symbol composed of the
Hebrew letters Shin (of
Sheqel) and
Khet (of
Khadash -- means "new" in Hebrew).
By stylized I mean:
- The letter Shin (ש) is missing its middle vertical line, which is stylistically completed by the right line of the letter Khet (ח). Its left vertical line is halfway cut in order not to touch the horizontal line of Khet.
- The letter Khet (ח) has its right vertical line halfway cut in order not to touch the horizontal line of Shin.
- The letter Khet begins from the horizontal middle of the letter Shin, rather than following it (as it does in normal text).
In daily writing, the simple "Shin-Khet" (ש״ח) abbreviation is often preferred over the complicated official symbol. Also, in colloquial writting and speech, the 'New' is sometimes omitted (since there's only one kind of 'Sheqel' currency left in circulation).