1 Birr

Ethiopia's 1 Birr bimetallic coin was introduced as part of a broader currency modernization effort by the National Bank following years of monetary instability — the Birr itself had been suspended during the Derg regime's ill-fated experiment with the Birr-replaced Birr in the 1970s, creating lasting confusion in the official exchange record. Brass-plated steel over a nickel-plated steel ring was a pragmatic choice driven by cost, not aesthetics, as Ethiopia's mint infrastructure has historically relied on foreign striking contracts.