[1][2] The prutah was an ancient copper coin of the Second Temple period of Israel with low value.
A loaf of bread in ancient times was worth about 10 prutot (plural of prutah).
One prutah was also worth two lepta (singular lepton), which was the smallest denomination minted by the kings of the Hasmonean and Herodian dynasties.
The prutah was introduced shortly after the establishment of the state of Israel, as the 1000th part of the Israeli pound.
This move was necessary due to the constant devaluation of the Israeli pound, which rendered coins smaller than 10 prutot redundant.