King Solomon's Mines, 1950 Film, Ethiopian Birr Coins

WillieBoyd2

After watching the 1950 film "King Solomon's Mines" and identifying the coins worn by
one of the actors as late 1800's Ethiopian Birrs, I just had to to get one (or two).


Ethiopia Birr EE 1889 (AD 1897) Type I
Emperor Menelik II


Ethiopia Birr EE 1895 (AD 1903) Type II, slightly different design
Was mounted at one time (or suffered post-elephant damage, see below)

These pictures are from the 1950 MGM (Metro Goldwym Meyer) film "King Solomon's Mines"
which is based on H. Rider Haggard's novel about Africa. The film is set in 1897.

Alan Quatermain, a professional hunter, takes two clients, a brother and sister,
to search for the missing husband of the sister.

Stewart Granger plays the hunter and Deborah Kerr plays the sister.

Early in the film, Alan's African assistant is killed by an elephant.
Alan removes a decoration from the man's neck to give to his wife.
The decoration appears to be two silver dollar sized coins joined by a chain.
The coins have been identified as Ethiopian Birrs.


Alan holding the two coins


Another view of one of the coins

I put some more coins in movies on my website.

newsman

I love those Menelik II coins -- they were among the first darkside coins I collected as a teen-ager. Here's one of mine -- 1892 birr in NGC Proof 64 cameo:

JCMhouston

Loved the movie, and those coins as well.

ProofArtworkonCircs

As a youngster I admired the coin plate in my fathers 1917 era large dictionary. A birr was one of the coins and I wanted one. Many decades later I found one on eBay. It turned out to be a more desirable date.

I have wondered what the story was with the lion and the cross. The first one the lion is carrying the cross in his left paw. Was this frowned on? He then carries the cross in his right paw, but it is now behind him. Was that frowned on? Finally on some later copper coins, the lion is facing the other way. The cross is now in the right paw and on the front side of the lion.

I also admired the French gold roosters. I finally got one. Never mind the rooster, I fell in love with Marianne. The sculpturing of that obverse is beautiful. especially when I saw it in 3-D.

canadacolornut

VERY interesting site Brian.

I plan to spend more time with it. Well done.....