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1 Werk - Menelik II Obverse Trial
| Issuer | Ethiopian Empire (Ethiopia) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1897 |
| Type | Coin pattern |
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| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Ge'ez (Ethiopic) |
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| Reverse description | The reverse is entirely blank, presenting a flat, unworked planchet surface consistent with a one-sided obverse trial strike. The field shows no design, legend, or decorative element of any kind, confirming the piece was struck solely to assess the obverse die. |
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| Additional information |
This pewter trial piece relates to the currency reform Menelik II pursued following his decisive victory over Italy at the Battle of Adwa in March 1896 — a victory that secured Ethiopian sovereignty and gave the emperor both the political confidence and international standing to establish a modern national coinage. The Werk denomination, pegged to gold, was part of that ambitious monetary reorganization, with dies prepared in Paris by the Monnaie de Paris.
Trial strikes in pewter were a standard Monnaie de Paris proofing method, used to test die quality before committing to the intended metal. Surviving obverse trials of this type are extremely rare outside institutional collections.