½ Birr - Menelik II

Features

Issuer Ethiopian Empire (Ethiopia)
Emperor Menelik II (1889-1913)
Type Standard circulation coin
Years 1887-1889 (1895-1897)
Calendar Ethiopian
Value ½ Birr / Thaler (የብር፡አሳጽ)
Currency Birr / Thaler (1893-1931)
Composition Silver (.835)
Weight 14.0375 g
Diameter 30 mm
Thickness 1.9 mm
Shape Round
Technique Milled
Orientation Coin alignment ↑↓
Demonetized Yes
Number
N#
18986
References KM# 4,
Tracy L. Schmidt (editor); 2019. Standard Catalog of World Coins / 2001-Date (14th edition). Krause Publications, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, United States.
And 5 more volumes.
Schön# 5
Gerhard Schön; 2022. Weltmünzkatalog / 20. Jahrhundert: 1901-2000 (47. Auflage). Battenberg Gietl Verlag, Regenstauf, Germany.
And 1 more volumes.

Obverse

Emperor Menelik II Bust Facing Right
Date below

Script: Ge'ez

Lettering: ዳግማዊ፡ምኒልክ፡ ንጉሠ ፡ ነገሥት ፡ ዘኢትዮጵያ።

Translation: His Imperial Majesty Menelik, King of Kings of Ethiopia

Engraver: Jean Lagrange

Reverse

Lion of Judah: Crowned lion carrying a cross

Scripts: Ge'ez, Latin

Lettering:
ሞዓ ፡ አንበሳ ፡ ዘእምነገደ ፡ ይሁዳ ፡፡
LA GRANGE
A
የብር ፡ አላድ

Translation:
Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah
Half Birr

Engraver: Jean Lagrange

Edge

Reeded

Mint

Mintmark of Monnaie de Paris (A) Monnaie de Paris, Paris (and Pessac starting 1973), France (864-date)

Mark

Torch Henri-Auguste-Jules Patey, General coin engraver, Monnaie de Paris (1896-1930)

See also

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Date Mintage VG F VF XF AU UNC Frequency
1887 (1895) A Torch Photo 10 000 $ 960 5%
1887 (1895) A Torch 1.5% Proof
1888 (1896) A Torch 200 1.5%
1889 (1897) A Torch Photo 420 000 $ 25 $ 25 $ 76 96%

Values in the table above are expressed in USD. They are based on evaluations by Numista users and sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only; they are not intended to be relied upon for buying, selling or exchanging. Numista does not buy or sell coins or banknotes.

Frequencies show the percentage of Numista users who own each year or variety among all the users who own this coin. Since some users own several versions, the sum may be greater than 100%.

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Members from this site want to exchange it: roddy78, Andrey78

Feedback: 5/55/55/55/55/5 (×220)
Country: Italy
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Numista Rarity index: 43 Search tips
This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

Bullion value: USD 9.29 Search tips
This value is given for information purpose only. It is based on a price of silver at 793 USD/kg. Numista does not buy or sell coins or metal.

Past sales

Pictures Sale Date Version Grade Sold price
Picture 1 of a sold ½ Birr - Menelik IIPicture 1 of a sold ½ Birr - Menelik II
Heritage Auctions
Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Select Auction 232228
Lot 62428
Internet Archive
7 Jul 2022 1887 (1895) A Torch UNC
(NGC MS64)
USD 960.00
(incl. buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold ½ Birr - Menelik IIPicture 1 of a sold ½ Birr - Menelik IIPicture 1 of a sold ½ Birr - Menelik IIPicture 1 of a sold ½ Birr - Menelik II
Heritage Auctions
2020 January 21 NYINC World & Ancient Coins Signature Online Auction 3082
Lot 33677
Internet Archive
21 Jan 2020 1887 (1895) A Torch UNC
(NGC MS64)
USD 900.00
(incl. buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold ½ Birr - Menelik IIPicture 1 of a sold ½ Birr - Menelik II
Heritage Auctions
Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Select Auction 232228
Lot 62429
Internet Archive
7 Jul 2022 1889 (1897) A Torch UNC
(NGC MS61)
USD 384.00
(incl. buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold ½ Birr - Menelik IIPicture 1 of a sold ½ Birr - Menelik II
Heritage Auctions
Wednesday & Thursday World & Ancient Coins Select Auction 232229
Lot 63400
Internet Archive
14 Jul 2022 1889 (1897) A Torch AU
(NGC AU53)
USD 180.00
(incl. buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold ½ Birr - Menelik II
Katz
Auction 77
Lot 520
Internet Archive
11 Feb 2023 1889 (1897) A Torch XF USD 109.17
(EUR 101.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold ½ Birr - Menelik II
Katz
Auction 79
Lot 2851
Internet Archive
21 Mar 2023 1889 (1897) A Torch VF USD 27.02
(EUR 25.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold ½ Birr - Menelik II
Katz
Auction 67
Lot 2827
Internet Archive
24 Sep 2022 1889 (1897) A Torch VF USD 82.15
(EUR 76.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold ½ Birr - Menelik II
Katz
Auction 73
Lot 78
Internet Archive
28 Dec 2022 Undetermined XF USD 161.05
(EUR 149.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold ½ Birr - Menelik II
Katz
Auction 57
Lot 601
Internet Archive
19 Mar 2022 Undetermined XF USD 89.71
(EUR 83.00)
(+ buyer's premium)
See the sales

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