Coins from Ethiopia

Known as Abyssinia until 1931, Ethiopia is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa region, bordered by Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Kenya. With a population of more than 102 million, it is the most populous landlocked country in the world. Maria Theresa Thalers were used extensively as coinage until the Ethiopian Birr was introduced as a standard currency in 1893. Initially subdivided into 20 Ghersh, or 40 Bessa a new currency divided into 16 Ghersh or 32 Bessa was issued in 1903. The Birr was decimalized in 1931 and divided into 100 Metonnyas, and this currency was used until the Italian occupation of 1936 and was reintroduced in 1945 after liberation. Ethiopia’s numismatic history was affected by the multitude of different currency influences that arose in the following years. The Birr had first been tied to the Italian Lire and then to the East African Shilling, during which time the subdivision became known as the Santeem, after the French Centime. These new conventions were formalised in 1976 when a new Birr coinage was released, still used to the present day. Ethiopian coins carry inscriptions in the Amharic language, using the Amharic alphabet. The Ethiopian numeric system also differs from the decimal system used in most countries, and the calendar also uses a different zero point, eight years earlier than the more common used AD/CE calendar. This can create confusion in the identification and precise dating of Ethiopian coinage. Currently circulating denominations are 10, 25 and 50 Santeem, and a bimetallic 1 Birr. Non-circulating commemorative coins are issued in higher denominations, usually struck in precious metal.
Wikidata: Q115

Display options108 results found.
Order by: face value - ruling authority - type - date - reference
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Birr / Thaler (1893-1931)

1 Birr / Thaler = 20 Gersh (1893-1903) then 20 Gersh (1903-1931) = 40 Bessa; Werk ~ 4 Birr / Thalers

1 Birr - Zauditu (Pattern)
1917 (1925)

Pattern
Gold (.900) • 41.31 g • ⌀ 40 mm
Fr# 23, N# 315092
Available for swap ⅛ Birr - Menelik II
1887-1888 (1895-1896)

Standard circulation coin
Silver (.835) • 3.5094 g • ⌀ 19.85 mm
KM# 2, Schön# 3, N# 41113
Available for swap ¼ Birr - Menelik II
1887-1895 (1895-1903)

Standard circulation coin
Silver (.835) • 7.0188 g • ⌀ 24 mm
KM# 3, Schön# 4, N# 11935
Available for swap ½ Birr - Menelik II
1887-1889 (1895-1897)

Standard circulation coin
Silver (.835) • 14.0375 g • ⌀ 30 mm
KM# 4, Schön# 5, N# 18986
Available for swap 1 Birr - Menelik II
1887-1889 (1895-1897)

Standard circulation coin
Silver (.835) • 28.075 g • ⌀ 40 mm
KM# 5, Schön# 6, N# 22984
¼ Gersh - Menelik II
1888 (1896)

Standard circulation coin
Copper • ⌀ 26 mm
KM# 6, Schön# A1, N# 92605
½ Gersh - Menelik II
1888 (1896)

Standard circulation coin
Copper • ⌀ 32 mm
KM# 7, Schön# B1, N# 92606
1 Gersh - Menelik II
1888 (1896)

Standard circulation coin
Copper • ⌀ 38 mm
KM# 8, Schön# C1, N# 92609
Available for swap 1⁄100 Birr - Menelik II
1889 (1897)

Standard circulation coin
Copper • 5 g • ⌀ 25 mm
KM# 9, Schön# 1, N# 19076
Available for swap 1⁄32 Birr - Menelik II
1889 (1903)

Standard circulation coin
Copper • 2.86 g • ⌀ 20.48 mm
KM# 10, Schön# 7, N# 22665
Available for swap 1⁄32 Birr - Menelik II
1889 (1922-1933)

Standard circulation coin
Copper • 2.86 g • ⌀ 20.48 mm
KM# 11, Schön# 7.2, N# 17410
Available for swap 1 Ghersh - Menelik II
1889-1895 (1897-1928)

Standard circulation coin
Silver (.835) • 1.4 g • ⌀ 16.5 mm
KM# 12, Schön# 2, N# 11934
1 Gersh - Menelik II
1889 (1897)

Standard circulation coin
Silver (.835) • 1.4 g • ⌀ 16.5 mm
KM# 13, N# 279974
Available for swap ¼ Birr - Menelik II
1889 (1897)

Standard circulation coin
Silver (.835) • 7.02 g • ⌀ 24 mm
KM# 14, Schön# 9, N# 44876
½ Birr - Menelik II (Lion's right foreleg raised)
1889 (1897)

Standard circulation coin
Silver (.835) • 14.0375 g • ⌀ 30 mm
KM# 15, Schön# 10, N# 109245
¼ Werk - Menelik II
1889 (1897)

Standard circulation coin
Gold (.900) • 1.75 g • ⌀ 17.5 mm
KM# 16, Schön# 12, N# 22979
½ Werk - Menelik II
1889 (1897)

Standard circulation coin
Gold (.900) • 3.5 g • ⌀ 18 mm
KM# 17, Schön# 13, N# 22983
1 Werk - Menelik II
1889 (1897)

Standard circulation coin
Gold (.900) • 7 g • ⌀ 21 mm
KM# 18, Schön# 14, N# 22982
Available for swap 1 Birr - Menelik II (Lion's right foreleg raised)
1892-1895 (1900-1903)

Standard circulation coin
Silver (.835) • 28.0750 g • ⌀ 40 mm
KM# 19, Schön# 15, N# 17175
½ Werk - Haile Selassie
1923 (1931)

Standard circulation coin
Gold (.900) • 3.5 g • ⌀ 18 mm
KM# 20, Schön# 21, N# 22980
1 Werk - Haile Selassie
1923 (1931)

Standard circulation coin
Gold (.900) • 7 g • ⌀ 21 mm
KM# 21, N# 22981

Birr / Thaler (decimalized, 1931-1936)

100 Metonnyas = 1 Birr / Thaler

Available for swap 1 Matona - Hailé Selassié I
1923 (1931)

Standard circulation coin
Bronze • 1.5 g • ⌀ 16.0 mm
KM# 27, Schön# 23, N# 10295
Available for swap 5 Matonas - Hailé Selassié I
1923 (1931)

Standard circulation coin
Copper • 3.0 g • ⌀ 20.7 mm
KM# 28, Schön# 24, N# 11936
Available for swap 10 Matonas - Hailé Selassié I
1923 (1931)

Standard circulation coin
Nickel • 2.0 g • ⌀ 15.7 mm
KM# 29, Schön# 25, N# 18686
Available for swap 25 Matonas - Hailé Selassié I
1923 (1931)

Standard circulation coin
Nickel • 4.97 g • ⌀ 21.58 mm
KM# 30, Schön# 26, N# 4392
Available for swap 50 Matonas - Hailé Selassié I
1923 (1931)

Standard circulation coin
Nickel • 7.11 g • ⌀ 26.7 mm
KM# 31, Schön# 27, N# 9331

Birr / Ethiopian Dollar (1945-1976)

1 Dollar / Birr = 100 Santeem

Available for swap 1 Santeem - Haile Selassie I
1936 (1944-1973)

Standard circulation coin
Brass • 2.892 g • ⌀ 17 mm
KM# 32, Schön# 28, N# 2974
Available for swap 5 Santeem - Hailé Selassié I
1936 (1944-1966)

Standard circulation coin
Brass • 4 g • ⌀ 20 mm
KM# 33, Schön# 29, N# 5946
Available for swap 10 Santeem - Haile Selassie I
1936 (1945-1975)

Standard circulation coin
Brass • 6.0 g • ⌀ 22.8 mm
KM# 34, Schön# 30, N# 5947
Available for swap 25 Santeem - Hailé Selassié I
1936 (1944)

Standard circulation coin
Brass • 3.5 g • ⌀ 26 mm
KM# 35, Schön# 31, N# 35722
Available for swap 25 Santeem - Hailé Selassié I
1936 (1944)

Standard circulation coin
Brass • 6.63 g • ⌀ 25.5 mm
KM# 36, Schön# 32, N# 4391
Available for swap 50 Santeem - Hailé Selassié I
1936 (1944-1945)

Standard circulation coin
Silver (.800) • 7.0307 g • ⌀ 25 mm
KM# 37, Schön# 33, N# 7134
50 Santeem - Hailé Selassié I
1936 (1947)

Standard circulation coin
Silver (.700) • 6.95 g • ⌀ 25 mm
KM# 37a, Schön# 33a, N# 27434
10 Dollars - Hailé Selassié I (2nd reign; Golden Jubilee)
1958 (1966)

Non-circulating coin: 75th Anniversary of the Birth and 50th Anniversary of the Accession of Emperor Hailé Selassié I
Gold (.900) • 4 g • ⌀ 20 mm
KM# 38, Schön# 34, N# 63354
Available for swap 20 Dollars - Hailé Selassié I (2nd Reign; Golden Jubilee)
1958 (1966)

Non-circulating coin: 75th Anniversary of the Birth and 50th Anniversary of the Accession of Emperor Hailé Selassié I
Gold (.900) • 8 g • ⌀ 25 mm
KM# 39, Schön# 35, N# 58819
50 Dollars - Hailé Selassié I (2nd Reign; Golden Jubilee)
1958 (1966)

Non-circulating coin: 75th Anniversary of the Birth and 50th Anniversary of the Accession of Emperor Hailé Selassié I
Gold (.900) • 20 g • ⌀ 33 mm
KM# 40, N# 281242
100 Dollars - Hailé Selassié I (2nd Reign; Golden Jubilee)
1958 (1966)

Non-circulating coin: 75th Birthday and 50th Jubilee of Reign of Emperor Haile Selassie I
Gold (.900) • 40 g
KM# 41, N# 278350
200 Dollars - Hailé Selassié I (2nd Reign; Golden Jubilee)
1958 (1966)

Non-circulating coin: 75th Birthday and 50th Jubilee of Reign of Emperor Haile Selassie I
Gold (.900) • 80 g
KM# 42, N# 278358

Birr (1976-date)

1 Birr = 100 Senteems

Available for swap 1 Santeem (FAO)
1969-1997 (1977-2005)

Standard circulation coin
Aluminium-magnesium • 0.6 g • ⌀ 17 mm
KM# 43.1, KM# 43.2, KM# 43.3, Schön# 50, N# 2997
Available for swap 5 Santeem (Non Magnetic)
1969 (1977)

Standard circulation coin
Nickel brass • 3 g • ⌀ 20 mm
KM# 44.1, KM# 44.2, Schön# 51, N# 4760
Available for swap 5 Santeem (Magnetic)
1969-2004 (1977-2012)

Standard circulation coin
Brass plated steel • 2.961 g • ⌀ 20 mm
KM# 44.3, Schön# 51a, N# 65392
Available for swap 10 Santeem (Non magnetic)
1969 (1977)

Standard circulation coin
Nickel brass • 4.5 g • ⌀ 23 mm
KM# 45, Schön# 52, N# 4885
Available for swap 10 Santeem (Magnetic)
1996-2004 (2004-2012)

Standard circulation coin
Brass plated steel • 4.563 g • ⌀ 23 mm
KM# 45.3, Schön# 52a, N# 63352
Available for swap 25 Santeem (Non-Magnetic)
1969 (1977)

Standard circulation coin
Copper-nickel • 3.68 g • ⌀ 21.5 mm
KM# 46, Schön# 53, N# 4758
Available for swap 25 Santeem (magnetic)
1969-2008 (1977-2016)

Standard circulation coin
Nickel plated steel • 3.292 g • ⌀ 21.45 mm
KM# 46.3, Schön# 53a, N# 47435
Available for swap 50 Santeem (Non-Magnetic)
1969 (1977)

Standard circulation coin
Copper-nickel • 5.98 g • ⌀ 25 mm
KM# 47.1, KM# 47.3, Schön# 54.1, Schön# 54.2, N# 4759
Available for swap 50 Santeem (magnetic)
1969-2008 (1977-2016)

Standard circulation coin
Copper-nickel plated steel • 5.40 g • ⌀ 25 mm
KM# 47.2, Schön# 54.3, N# 63353

Birr / Ethiopian Dollar (1945-1976)

1 Dollar / Birr = 100 Santeem

5 Dollars (Emperor Theodros II)
1964 (1972)

Non-circulating coin: Emperor Theodros II
Silver (.925) • 20 g • ⌀ 40 mm
KM# 48, Schön# 39, N# 50173
5 Dollars (Johannes IV)
1964 (1972)

Non-circulating coin: Emperor Johannes IV
Silver (.925) • 20.00 g • ⌀ 40.00 mm
KM# 49, Schön# 40, N# 135520
5 Dollars (Menelik II)
1964 (1972)

Non-circulating coin: Emperor Menelik II
Silver (.925) • 20.00 g • ⌀ 40.00 mm
KM# 50, Schön# 41, N# 135521

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