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1 Birr - Menelik II Pattern
| Issuer | Ethiopian Empire (Ethiopia) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1902 |
| Type | Coin pattern |
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| Obverse description | Crowned and draped bust of Emperor Menelik II facing right, wearing an ornate imperial crown adorned with a cross finial and decorative elements. The emperor is depicted with a full beard, his regalia rendered in fine relief. A circular Ge'ez legend surrounds the effigy, reading the imperial titles. The word 'ሃገሩ' (his country) appears in the lower exergue beneath the bust. The entire design is framed by a finely toothed inner border and a milled outer rim. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Ge'ez |
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| Additional information |
This 1902 pattern was struck in anticipation of a currency reform that would standardize Ethiopian coinage under Menelik II, who had already consolidated imperial authority following the decisive defeat of the Italian army at Adwa in 1896. The Adwa victory gave Menelik both the political standing and, critically, the financial leverage — including indemnity payments and foreign loans — to pursue an independent monetary program rather than rely on the Maria Theresa Thaler that had dominated Ethiopian trade for generations.
White metal patterns of this type were almost certainly struck in Paris or Vienna for presentation and approval purposes, never intended for circulation.