Lion Coin - Is this from Ethiopia?

MrSpud

Hi,
I was going through an old box of World Coins that I have had since I was a child tonight and came across this one. The rest of the copper coins in the box are all brown, but this one is still red. It has a nice design on it, but I cannot read the language on the coin. The coin is in an old 2X2 with the words Ethiopia 1 cent 1944. It appears to be my handwriting from long ago, but I have no idea if this is really what the coin is. Anybody familiar with these? The coin is actually a bit smaller than a dime. Thanks, in advance, for any replies.

lordmarcovan

Yup.

lordmarcovan

... and that's what it is. One cent (santeem), EE1936 (AD 1944). Actually struck until about 1975 with a "frozen date".

A very common coin, but neat looking. A BU like yours goes $1.00 in Krause (2004).

MrSpud

Thanks. So they just kept on using the same date? No wonder it is still red when the rest of the copper coins in my old box are brown.

lordmarcovan

Yeah, that's the only date you'll see out there. Frozen in time with Haile Selassie on the coin.

They were struck at the Philadelphia mint in the USA and the Royal Mint in the UK, though I don't know of any way to distinguish between the mints (I don't think there are any mintmarks).

1jester

Beautiful coin!

rhound1977

I have two or three from that series with the fozen date.....

newsman

Those are common, but still nice coins. If you're interested in a real challenge, try finding one of the round 25-cent coins from that series. They were minted in 1944 and withdrawn a few years later in favor of a coin with scalloped edges. A red unc. is truly scarce.