© Heritage Auctions
© Heritage Auctions
50 Matonas - Hailé Selassié I
1923 (1931) year| Nickel | 7.11 g | 26.7 mm |
| Issuer | Ethiopian Empire (Ethiopia) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Haile Selassie I (1930-1936, 1941-1974) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Year | 1923 (1931) |
| Calendar | Ethiopian |
| Value | 50 Matonas (፶ መቶኛ) (0.50) |
| Currency | Birr / Thaler (decimalized, 1931-1936) |
| Composition | Nickel |
| Weight | 7.11 g |
| Diameter | 26.7 mm |
| Thickness | 1.7 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-04 |
| Numista | N#9331 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 14% |
Reverse
Lion of Judah facing right, denomination below
Scripts: Ge'ez, Latin
Lettering:
ሞዓ፡አንበሳ፡ዘእምነገደ፡ይሁዳ፡
50
Translation: The Lion of Judah has conquered (or Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah)
Edge
Plain
Comment
Blank planchets for this type were manufactured by Mond Nickel Company in 1932, 1933, and 1934.Of the total mintage, 422,462 were minted in 1933 and 1,198,794 were minted in 1934.
Haile Selassie I (1882-1975) was the last emperor of Ethiopia. He was born as Täfäri Mäkonnän and later became known as Ras (duke) Tafari. In 1916 he dethroned Lij Yasu, the successor of emperor Melnik II. Zauditu, Menilek II’s daughter, became empress in 1917, while Ras Tafari became regent and heir apparent to the throne. He ruled from 1930 to 1936, then from 1941 to 1974, interrupted by the Italian occupation. After famine struck the nation, he was kept under house arrest in his palace after a military coup and got killed by the junta the 27th of August 1975. Some Rastafarians have refered to Haile Selassie as the returned messiah of the Bible.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the 50 Matonas coin is that it features an image of Emperor Hailé Selassié I on one side and the Ethiopian coat of arms on the other, which includes a lion holding a staff and a crown, symbolizing the country's rich history and cultural heritage.
Price
| Date | Mintage | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 (1931) | 1621256 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for 50 Matonas - Hailé Selassié I 1923 (1931) coin.
