200 Birr UN Decade for Women

Issued in 1984 to mark the United Nations Decade for Women (1976–1985), this Ethiopian commemorative was struck while the country was simultaneously enduring one of the worst famines of the twentieth century — a fact that sharpened international criticism of the Derg regime's decision to spend hard currency on prestige gold issues. The Derg had by then nationalized the National Bank entirely, making all such commemorative programs instruments of state image-making rather than numismatic tradition.

Mintages for Ethiopian gold commemoratives of this period were extremely low, produced almost entirely for the export collector market rather than domestic circulation.