An electromagnetically operated valve which may be used as a fuel injector in a fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine. The valve includes: a discharge means, a sealing means, a fluid conduit, an electrical conductor, an electromagnetic circuit, a travel limiter and a biasing means. The sealing means intermittently opens and closes the discharge means. The electromagnetic circuit includes: a movable armature, a center pole, a combined housing and outer pole, a coil for magnetizing said electromagnetic circuit in response to said electrical signal and a flux path. The armature is a low mass, dual purpose disc which cooperates with the sealing means. The armature is disposed within and in slideable contact with the housing. The travel limiter limits travel of the armature in an upstream direction and defines a single air gap in the flux path between an upstream face of the armature and a downstream end of the first pole when the armature is in an upstream open position. The armature has a travel distance between its upstream open position and its downstream closed position, which is approximately equal to the single gap in the flux path.