Ethiopian birr
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| ISO 4217 Code | ETB |
| User(s) | Ethiopia |
| Inflation | 6% |
| Source | The World Factbook, 2005 est. |
| Subunit | |
| 1/100 | santim |
| Symbol | Br |
| Coins | 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 santim |
| Banknotes | 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 birr |
| Central bank | National Bank of Ethiopia |
| Website | www.nbe.gov.et |
- For other uses, see Birr (disambiguation).
The birr is the unit of currency in Ethiopia. Before 1976, dollar was the official English translation of birr. Today, it is officially birr in English as well.
In 1931, the Emperor of Ethiopia formally requested that the international community use the name Ethiopia instead of Abyssinia and the issuing bank became the Bank of Ethiopia. Thus, the pre-1931 currency could be considered the Abyssinian birr and the post-1931 currency the Ethiopian birr, although it was the same country and the same currency before and after.
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[edit] History
[edit] First Birr, -1936
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Maria Theresa thalers and blocks of salt called amoleh served as currency in Ethiopia. Birr (literally meaning "silver") was the local name for the Maria Theresa thaler.
Menelik II began issuing coins in 1894. The birr, equivalent to the Maria Theresa thaler, was divided into 20 ghersh (the name coming from the Ottoman Empire's qirsh) or 32 bessa. Denominations issued were 1⁄100 and 1⁄32 birr, 1 ghersh, ⅛, ¼, ½ and 1 birr. Gold coins were issued in denominations of ¼, ½ and 1 werk. In 1903, the currency system was changed to 16 ghersh = 1 birr. Banknotes were issued by the Bank of Abyssinia from 1915, with the name thaler being used for birr in the French text on the notes.
In 1931, Ethiopia decimalized, with the birr equal to 100 metonnyas (often written matonas). Coins were issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 metonnyas. The Bank of Ethiopia issued notes in 1932 in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 birr (thalers).
[edit] 1936-1945
In 1936, following the occupation of Ethiopia by Italy, the Italian lira was introduced at a rate of 1 birr = 5 lire. In 1938, the Italian East African lira was introduced in banknote form only. Liberation in 1941 brought the introduction of the British East African currency, the shilling. This replaced the lira at a rate of 24 lire = 1 shilling.
[edit] Second Birr, 1945-
The birr was reintroduced in 1945 at a rate of 1 birr = 2 shillings. The name Ethiopian dollar was used in the English text on the banknotes. It was divided into 100 santim (derived from the French centime). The name birr became the official name used in all languages in 1976.
[edit] Coins
Coins have been issued in three series, dated 1944, 1977 and 2004-5, in denominations of
- 1 santim (no 2004 issue)
- 5 santim (latest issue dated 2005)
- 10 santim (latest issue dated 2004)
- 25 santim "semuni" (latest issue dated 2004)
- 50 santim (latest issue dated 2004)
These dates correspond to dates on Western calendars. Dates on the Ethiopian calendar are seven or eight years behind, and the dates, on the obverse of the coins, appear in Amharic, the language of Ethiopia, in years that correspond to the Ethiopian calendar (1936, 1969 and 1996-8, respectively).
[edit] Banknote
Banknotes have been issued in the following series:
| Series | Denominations |
| 1945 | 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 birr |
| 1961 | 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 birr |
| 1966 | 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 birr |
| 1976 | 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 birr |
| 1991 | 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 birr |
| 1997 | 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 birr |
| 2003 | 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 birr |
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[edit] References
- Global Financial Data currency histories table
- Tables of modern monetary history: Ethiopia
- Tables of modern monetary history: Eritrea
[edit] External links
| Preceded by: Maria Theresa thaler Ratio: at par |
Currency of Abyssinia 1894 – 1931 |
Currency of Ethiopia 1931 – 1936 |
Succeeded by: Italian lira Reason: annexed by Italy into Italian East Africa Ratio: 5 lire = 1 birr |
| Preceded by: East African shilling Reason: end of British occupation Ratio: 1 birr = 2 shillings |
Currency of Ethiopia 1945 – Note: English translation was "dollar" before 1976 |
Succeeded by: Current |
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| Currency of Eritrea (as part of Ethiopia) 1952 – 1993 Note: Eritrea became part of a federation with Ethiopia in 1952. Eritrea became a fully integrated part of Ethiopia in 1960 |
Currency of Eritrea 1993 – 1997 |
Succeeded by: Eritrean nakfa Reason: currency independence Ratio: at par |
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