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Author: Admin | 2025-04-27
The currency, consisting of denominations of ⅛, ¼, ½, and 1 birr, was issued by the Ethiopian government. The initial pieces were designed by French artist Jean Lagrange (1831–1908), and the dies were engraved by Austrian sculptors Franz Pawlik (1865–1906) and Anton Scharff (1845–1903). Commissioned to strike the coins was the Monnaie de Paris, the primary mint of France. This first type was then minted with the frozen dates of 1896 and 1897 for a short period afterward. A redesigned example was introduced in 1900 and struck subsequently with the date 1903 into the reigns of Emperor Iyasu V (1895–1935) and Empress Zewditu (1876–1930). Its illustrations were based on Lagrange's original design, but modified by Jules-Clément Chaplain (1839–1909). Like with the first coin, the dies were reportedly cut by Pawlik and Scharff. Both types are composed of .835 fine silver, weigh approximately 28.08 grams, and measure 40 millimeters in diameter. They have coin alignment and are round in shape. The Amharic national motto of the Ethiopian Empire, "ሞዓ፡አንበሳ፡ዘእምነገደ፡ይሁዳ።" (Romanized: Mo'ā 'Anebasā Za-'Emenagada Yehudā), translating as "Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah", is inscribed along the edge.Engraved in the center of both coins is a right-facing bust of a bearded Menelik II wearing monarchical clothing and the Imperial Crown of Ethiopia. This likeness on the initial piece extends from the top to the bottom of the piece, showing more of Menelik's upper torso, and his head is angled slightly downward. On the later coin less of the king's torso is shown, his head is angled more horizontally, and the crown is larger. Inscribed counterclockwise along the periphery of the first piece is the Amharic caption "ዳግማዊ፡ምኒልክ፡ንጉሠ፡ነገሥት፡ዘኢትዮጵያ።" (Romanized: Dāgmāwi Minilik Neguśa Nagaśt Za-Ītyōṗṗyā), which translates as "Menelik II, King of Kings of Ethiopia". The same text, albeit excluding the word separator
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