Ethiopian Empire (1268-1936, 1941-1975), Provisional Military Government of Socialist Ethiopia (1975-1987), People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (1987-1991), State of Ethiopia (1991-1995), Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (1995-present)
Country in East Africa (1268-1936, 1941-present)
Location: Horn of Africa
Capital City: Teguelat (1268-1412), Danqaz (1412-1635), Gondar (1635-1855), Magdella (1855-1868), Mekele (1868-1886), Addis Ababa (1886-present)
Government type: Absolute Monarchy (1268-1931) Constitutional Monarchy (1931-1936, 1941-1975), Communist Republic under a Military Dictatorship (1975-1987), Communist Republic (1987-1991), Transitional Government (1991-1995), Federal Republic (1995-present)
Main languages: Amharic, Afar, Oromo, Somali, Tigrinya
Main religions: Orthodox Christianity, Sunni Islam, Protestant Christianity
Chronology
1268: Ethiopian Empire foudned when Yekuno Amlak deposes Zagwe kingdom
1769-1855: Zemene Mesafint (Age of Princes), Imperial authority collapses and mosr of the country ruled by regional nobility and warlords.
1855: Emperor Tewodros II reunifies Ethiopia
1935: Invaded by Italy
1936: Annexed by Italy as part of Italian East Africa
1941: Independence restored by British and Arbegnoch (Ethiopian resistance fighters)
1942-1944: British occupation
1974-1991: Ethiopian Civil War
1975: Military overthrows Emperor, installs communist regime known as the "Derg"
1987: Military government ends
1991: Communists overthrown, transitional government created
1995: Federal Republic established
Currency
First Birr (1893-1931)
1 Birr = 20 Gersh = 40 Bessa • 1 Werk = 4 Birr
Second Birr (1931-1936)
1 Birr = 100 Metonnyas
Third Birr (1941-1976)
1 Birr = 100 Santeem
Fourth Birr (1976-present)
1 Birr = 100 Santeem
Coins from Ethiopia in the collection
Empire (1268-1936)
•1 Gersh, 1903 (Emperor Menelik II (1889-1913), silver (.835), Paris mint, KM#12)
•1 Birr, 1897 (Emperor Menelik II (1889-1913), silver (.835), Paris mint, KM#5)
•50 Matonnya, 1931 (Emperor Haile Selassie (1930-1936), nickel, Addis Ababa mint, KM#31)
Restored Empire (1941-1975)
•1 Santeem, 1944 (Emperor Haile Selassie (1941-1975), brass, Philadelphia mint, KM#32)
•10 Santeem, 1944 (Emperor Haile Selassie (1941-1975), brass, Philadelphia mint, KM#34)
•25 Santeem, 1944 (Emperor Haile Selassie (1941-1975), brass, Philadelphia mint, KM#36)
•50 Santeem, 1944 (Emperor Haile Selassie (1941-1975), silver (.800), Philadelphia mint, KM#37)
Derg (1975-1987)
•1 Santeem, 1977 (aluminum, Berlin, Llantrisant, and VDM Metals (Werdohl, Germany), KM#43) Commemorative: FAO
•5 Santeem, 1977 (nickel brass, Berlin mint, KM#44)
•10 Santeem, 1977 (nickel brass, Berlin, Llantrisant, and Addis Ababa mints, KM#44)
•25 Santeem, 1977 (cupronickel, Berlin, Llantrisant, and Addis Ababa mints, KM#46)
Federal Republic (1995-present)
•1 Santeem, 2005 (aluminum, Berlin, Llantrisant, and VDM Metals (Werdohl, Germany), KM#43) Commemorative: FAO
•10 Santeem, 2008 (brass-plated steel, Winnipeg mint, KM#45.3)
•25 Santeem, 2008 (nickel-plated steel, Winnipeg mint, KM#46.3)
•1 Birr, 2010 (brass-plated steel center in nickel-plated steel ring, Winnipeg mint, KM#78)
•1 Birr, 2020 (brass-plated steel center in nickel-plated steel ring, Winnipeg mint, KM#78)
Banknotes from Ethiopia in the collection
Restored Empire (1941-1975)
•5 Birr, 1945-1949 (Emperor Haile Selassie (1941-1975), P#13)
Federal Republic (1995-present)
•1 Birr, 1997 (P#46)
•50 Birr, 2006 (P#51)