{"title":"Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti)","description":"\u003cp\u003eBanknotes from the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti)\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"whose-booty-whale-shark-weird-amount-40-francs-djibouti-2017-p-46-unc-e125","title":"Djibouti P-46 WHOSE BOOTY? WHALE SHARK \u0026 WEIRD AMOUNT: 40 Francs 2017 UNC","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFront\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhale Shark\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBack\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePort\u003c\/strong\u003e of Djibouti, the main port for Djibouti's neighbor \u003cstrong\u003eEthiopia\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLogo 40th (\u003cstrong\u003eemerald\u003c\/strong\u003e) anniversary of \u003cstrong\u003eindependence\u003c\/strong\u003e from \u003cstrong\u003eFrance\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Djibouti \u003c\/strong\u003e(ji-BOO-tee)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDjibouti sits at one of the world’s great maritime \u003cstrong\u003echokepoints\u003c\/strong\u003e, where the \u003cstrong\u003eRed Sea\u003c\/strong\u003e meets the \u003cstrong\u003eGulf of Aden \u003c\/strong\u003eat the entrance to the \u003cstrong\u003eSuez\u003c\/strong\u003e route. Formerly a \u003cstrong\u003eFrench colony \u003c\/strong\u003eknown as \u003c\/span\u003eFrench\u003cstrong data-start=\"221\" data-end=\"242\"\u003e Somaliland\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, later the \u003c\/span\u003eTerritory of the \u003cstrong\u003eA\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"254\" data-end=\"294\"\u003efars and the Issas\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, it gained \u003cstrong\u003eindependence\u003c\/strong\u003e in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"322\" data-end=\"330\"\u003e1977\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Its importance lies almost entirely in its \u003cstrong\u003eport\u003c\/strong\u003e: Djibouti is the primary maritime outlet for \u003c\/span\u003elandlocked\u003cstrong data-start=\"425\" data-end=\"448\"\u003e Ethiopia\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, handling the vast majority of Ethiopian imports and exports, and serving global shipping moving between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Since independence, the country has remained politically \u003cstrong\u003estable\u003c\/strong\u003e but economically narrow, relying on port services, \u003cstrong\u003emilitary bases \u003c\/strong\u003eof \u003cstrong\u003eFrance, China, Japan, Italy \u003c\/strong\u003eand the \u003cstrong\u003eUnited States (\u003cstrong data-start=\"536\" data-end=\"554\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eCamp Lemonnier)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, and logistics; growth has been steady rather than transformative, with strategic geography compensating for scarce natural resources.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhale shark\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003eThe \u003cstrong data-start=\"961\" data-end=\"976\"\u003ewhale shark\u003c\/strong\u003e is the largest fish on Earth, a gentle plankton-feeder that migrates through warm tropical waters. Djibouti’s \u003cstrong data-start=\"1087\" data-end=\"1107\"\u003eGulf of Tadjoura\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of the rare places where whale sharks gather seasonally in large numbers, drawn by nutrient-rich waters that support plankton blooms. This has made the country a quiet hotspot for responsible marine tourism, with snorkeling encounters that contrast sharply with its arid, militarized image on land—an example of how Djibouti’s strategic location shapes not only global trade routes, but natural ones as well.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Money Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51499232657719,"sku":"DJ46U","price":1.89,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0969\/7165\/3431\/files\/57_7b463fe6-1fa1-435e-985b-d1e0c69c94e0.jpg?v=1766777101"},{"product_id":"somalia-50-shillings-1991-p-r2-unc","title":"Somalia P-R2 50 shillings 1991 UNC YOW","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFront\u003c\/strong\u003e: Features a man crafting a traditional Somali carpet on a loom, symbolizing local industry and craftsmanship. In the background, you can see date palm trees, representing a significant agricultural product of the region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBack\u003c\/strong\u003e: Depicts women and children riding a donkey, a common mode of transport and an integral part of daily life in Somalia, illustrating a scene of community and rural activity.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Money Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51499313037623,"sku":null,"price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0969\/7165\/3431\/files\/57_fa6b4fa5-ab07-4ce5-a984-94ef22f04213.jpg?v=1766779619"},{"product_id":"somaliland-p-1000-shillings-unc-red-f-hargeysa-b-sheeps-ships","title":"Somaliland P-20a 1000 Shillings 2011 UNC—Only Israel recognizes this country!","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eColor: red\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFront\u003c\/strong\u003e: Bankaa Somaliland (Bank of Somaliland, the \u003cstrong\u003ecentral bank\u003c\/strong\u003e) \u003cstrong\u003eHQ\u003c\/strong\u003e in the capital, Hargeisa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBack\u003c\/strong\u003e: Berbera \u003cstrong\u003edockside\u003c\/strong\u003e, herds of \u003cstrong\u003esheep\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003egoats\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"578\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"14\"\u003eSomaliland\u003c\/strong\u003e is a self-declared republic in the northwest of what is internationally recognized as Somalia. Formerly the \u003cstrong\u003eBritish Somaliland \u003c\/strong\u003eProtectorate, it briefly gained independence in 1960, then voluntarily\u003cstrong\u003e united with Italian Somalia\u003c\/strong\u003e to form the Somali Republic. After the collapse of the Somali state in 1991, Somaliland reasserted its sovereignty, rebuilt its institutions, held elections, and has since functioned as a \u003cstrong\u003ede facto independent country with its own currency\u003c\/strong\u003e, parliament, borders, and relative \u003cstrong\u003estability\u003c\/strong\u003e—remarkably so in a region marked by chronic conflict.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"580\" data-end=\"1063\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eYet in international law it remains unrecognized, treated as part of Somalia despite three decades of effective self-rule. As of 2026, \u003cstrong data-start=\"715\" data-end=\"773\"\u003eonly Israel has extended formal diplomatic recognition\u003c\/strong\u003e, quietly valuing \u003cstrong\u003eSomaliland’s strategic position\u003c\/strong\u003e near the Bab el-Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. The rest of the world maintains the fiction of Somali territorial unity, leaving Somaliland in the rare category of a state that exists in practice, but only faintly on the diplomatic map.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Money Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51592077574455,"sku":"SW20aUNC","price":1.19,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0969\/7165\/3431\/files\/20ao.jpg?v=1768796728"},{"product_id":"somaliland-p-20d-1000-shillings-2015-unc-only-israel-recognizes-this-country","title":"Somaliland P-20d 1000 Shillings 2015 UNC—Only Israel recognizes this country!","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eColor: red\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFront\u003c\/strong\u003e: Bankaa Somaliland (Bank of Somaliland, the \u003cstrong\u003ecentral bank\u003c\/strong\u003e) \u003cstrong\u003eHQ\u003c\/strong\u003e in the capital, Hargeisa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBack\u003c\/strong\u003e: Berbera \u003cstrong\u003edockside\u003c\/strong\u003e, herds of \u003cstrong\u003esheep\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003egoats\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"578\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"14\"\u003eSomaliland\u003c\/strong\u003e is a self-declared republic in the northwest of what is internationally recognized as Somalia. Formerly the \u003cstrong\u003eBritish Somaliland \u003c\/strong\u003eProtectorate, it briefly gained independence in 1960, then voluntarily\u003cstrong\u003e united with Italian Somalia\u003c\/strong\u003e to form the Somali Republic. After the collapse of the Somali state in 1991, Somaliland reasserted its sovereignty, rebuilt its institutions, held elections, and has since functioned as a \u003cstrong\u003ede facto independent country with its own currency\u003c\/strong\u003e, parliament, borders, and relative \u003cstrong\u003estability\u003c\/strong\u003e—remarkably so in a region marked by chronic conflict.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"580\" data-end=\"1063\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eYet in international law it remains unrecognized, treated as part of Somalia despite three decades of effective self-rule. As of 2026, \u003cstrong data-start=\"715\" data-end=\"773\"\u003eonly Israel has extended formal diplomatic recognition\u003c\/strong\u003e, quietly valuing \u003cstrong\u003eSomaliland’s strategic position\u003c\/strong\u003e near the Bab el-Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. The rest of the world maintains the fiction of Somali territorial unity, leaving Somaliland in the rare category of a state that exists in practice, but only faintly on the diplomatic map.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Money Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51592143438135,"sku":"SW20dUNC","price":1.19,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0969\/7165\/3431\/files\/20do.jpg?v=1768799039"},{"product_id":"somaliland-p-1-5-shillings-1994-unc-kudu-antelope-camel-only-israel-recognizes-this-country","title":"Somaliland P-1 5 shillings 1994 UNC—kudu—antelope—camel—only ISRAEL recognizes this country","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003eSomaliland P-1 5 shillings 1994. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003eFront:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003eGoodirka house, home to the House of Representatives when Somaliland declared independence; now Supreme Court\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003eKudu (type of antelope)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003eBack: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003eCamel caravan, with two nomads and three camels\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003eNaasa Hablood (\"Girl's breast\") hills near Hargeisa\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003eThe Bank of Somaliland \u003cem\u003eBankaa Somaliland \u003c\/em\u003ebrought out the Somaliland shilling on October 18, 1994 at a rate of 1 new Somaliland shillings for 100 Somali shillings. It was pegged at 50 Somaliland shillings to 1 United States dollar.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Money Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51608549065015,"sku":"SW1UNC","price":1.89,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0969\/7165\/3431\/files\/1o_37fd7394-96d5-425c-9063-dde8b4018ac7.jpg?v=1769284253"},{"product_id":"somaliland-p-1-p-20-2-pc-set-5-1000-shillings-unc","title":"Somaliland P-1 P-20 2 pc set 5 \u0026 1000 shillings UNC","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"578\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"14\"\u003eSomaliland\u003c\/strong\u003e is a self-declared republic in the northwest of what is internationally recognized as Somalia. Formerly the \u003cstrong\u003eBritish Somaliland \u003c\/strong\u003eProtectorate, it briefly gained independence in 1960, then voluntarily\u003cstrong\u003e united with Italian Somalia\u003c\/strong\u003e to form the Somali Republic. After the collapse of the Somali state in 1991, Somaliland reasserted its sovereignty, rebuilt its institutions, held elections, and has since functioned as a \u003cstrong\u003ede facto independent country with its own currency\u003c\/strong\u003e, parliament, borders, and relative \u003cstrong\u003estability\u003c\/strong\u003e—remarkably so in a region marked by chronic conflict.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"580\" data-end=\"1063\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eYet in international law it remains unrecognized, treated as part of Somalia despite three decades of effective self-rule. As of 2026, \u003cstrong data-start=\"715\" data-end=\"773\"\u003eonly Israel has extended formal diplomatic recognition\u003c\/strong\u003e, quietly valuing \u003cstrong\u003eSomaliland’s strategic position\u003c\/strong\u003e near the Bab el-Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. The rest of the world maintains the fiction of Somali territorial unity, leaving Somaliland in the rare category of a state that exists in practice, but only faintly on the diplomatic map.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Money Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51608560730423,"sku":"SW1SW20dUNC","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0969\/7165\/3431\/files\/1rcopy_3bd610f9-a4ac-4a97-935b-6f4fedc29394.png?v=1769285602"},{"product_id":"eritrea-p-3-10-nakfa-1997-05-24-u","title":"Eritrea P-3 10 Nakfa 1997 UNC—Women—Railroad—Bridge","description":"\u003ch3\u003eBanknote Characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVarieties:\u003c\/strong\u003e Only one variety. Dated 24 May 1997.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFront:\u003c\/strong\u003e Portraits of 3 young women; flag being raised\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBack:\u003c\/strong\u003e Train engine hauling \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Boxcar\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eboxcars\u003c\/a\u003e across viaduct over the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dogali\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDogali River\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Green tones\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatermark:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Camel\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCamel\u003c\/a\u003e's head\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComposition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 140 × 70 mm\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIssuing entity:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bank_of_Eritrea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBank of Eritrea\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Giesecke%2BDevrient\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGiesecke+Devrient\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Leipzig\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLeipzig\u003c\/a\u003e, Germany\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDemonetized:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1 January 2016\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Isaias_Afwerki\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eIsaias Afewerki\u003c\/a\u003e (President) and Tekie Beyene (Central Bank Governor)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDesigner:\u003c\/strong\u003e Clarence Holbert\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCountry:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eritrea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEritrea\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePre-colonial era (ancient–1882)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Italian_Eritrea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eItalian Eritrea\u003c\/a\u003e (1882–1941)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ethiopian_Empire\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEthiopian\u003c\/a\u003e administration (1941–1993, incl. as part of \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Federation%20of%20Ethiopia%20and%20Eritrea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFederation of Ethiopia and Eritrea\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eritrea_(1952%E2%80%931962)\"\u003e1952-1962\u003c\/a\u003e).\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDuring this period the  \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eritrean_War_of_Independence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eEritrean War of Independence\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ethiopian_Civil_War\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEthiopian Civil War\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e took place\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eIndependent State of Eritrea (1993–date) following the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1993_Eritrean_independence_referendum\"\u003e1993 Eritrean independence referendum\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Demonetization\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn 1 January 2016, all old \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eritrean_nakfa\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEritrean Nakfa\u003c\/a\u003e banknotes dated before 24 May 2015 were \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Demonetization_(currency)\" target=\"_blank\"\u003edemonetized\u003c\/a\u003e and now carry collector value only. They were redeemable at a bank within the first six weeks of demonetization.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEritrea: Africa's Enigma on the Red Sea\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerched along the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Red_Sea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRed Sea\u003c\/a\u003e coast of the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Horn_of_Africa\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eHorn of Africa\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eritrea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEritrea\u003c\/a\u003e is one of the world's most isolated and least-visited countries — and one of its most fascinating. It gained independence from \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ethiopia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEthiopia\u003c\/a\u003e in 1993 after a grueling 30-year liberation war, only to fall under the grip of President \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Isaias_Afwerki\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eIsaias Afewerki\u003c\/a\u003e, whose government is widely regarded as one of the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Human_rights_in_Eritrea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eworld's most repressive dictatorships\u003c\/a\u003e — sometimes called the \"North Korea of Africa\" for its closed borders, indefinite military conscription, and near-total suppression of press and political freedoms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYet step into the capital \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Asmara\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAsmara\u003c\/a\u003e and the contradictions multiply. The city is a remarkably preserved showcase of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Italian_Eritrea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eItalian colonial\u003c\/a\u003e architecture — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Art_Deco\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eArt Deco\u003c\/a\u003e cinemas, futurist gas stations, modernist villas, and espresso bars that would not look out of place in Milan or Rome. Designated a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/UNESCO_World_Heritage_Site\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eUNESCO World Heritage Site\u003c\/a\u003e in 2017, Asmara is sometimes described as a time capsule: an Italian city frozen in the 1930s, transplanted to the African highlands. For collectors and travelers alike, Eritrea is a country of extraordinary depth hiding behind an almost impenetrable surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Railroad That Refused to Die: Eritrea's Iron Lifeline\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eritrean_Railway\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEritrean Railway\u003c\/a\u003e was originally built by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Italian_Eritrea\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eItalian colonial authorities\u003c\/a\u003e between 1887 and 1932, winding 306 kilometers from the Red Sea port of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Massawa\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMassawa\u003c\/a\u003e through dramatic highland terrain to Asmara and beyond to \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bishia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBishia\u003c\/a\u003e. The line climbs nearly 2,400 meters in elevation over its route, crossing dozens of bridges and viaducts — including the one over the Dogali River shown on this note — making it an engineering feat that drew international admiration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe railway fell into disuse and severe disrepair during the decades of war with Ethiopia. After independence in 1993, Eritrea undertook a celebrated effort to restore it, relying almost entirely on elderly veterans who had originally worked the line — rebuilding \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Locomotive\" target=\"_blank\"\u003elocomotives\u003c\/a\u003e, tracks, and bridges largely by hand with salvaged parts. By the early 2000s, a portion of the line was operational again, and the restoration attracted global attention as a symbol of national pride and self-reliance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday, the railway remains only partially operational and is used primarily for \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eritrea#Tourism\" target=\"_blank\"\u003etourism\u003c\/a\u003e rather than freight or passenger transport. Regular service has been intermittent, hampered by economic constraints and the country’s broader isolation. Nevertheless, the Eritrean Railway endures as a powerful cultural icon — and its presence on this banknote reflects the deep significance \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eritreans\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEritreans\u003c\/a\u003e attach to it as a monument to resilience and independence.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Money Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51799013228855,"sku":"ER3U","price":1.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0969\/7165\/3431\/files\/3or.jpg?v=1774574098"},{"product_id":"ethiopia-p-47h-5-birr-2017-u","title":"Ethiopia P-47h 5 Birr 2017 UNC—Coffee's Birthplace—Lion of Judah—Kudu Antelope","description":"\u003cp\u003eEthiopia P-47h 5 Birr 2009 (2017), Uncirculated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Multicolor\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e P-47h — final variety of the series; signature of Governor Dubale Jale (DA on note); serial prefixes CX–EI; Ethiopian calendar 1989–2009 (Gregorian 1997–2017)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFront:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMan picking coffee beans at centre\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCoffee plant at right\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLion’s head at centre left\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInscriptions in Ge’ez and Latin scripts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBack:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKudu (large spiral-horned antelope)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCaracal (sleek wild cat with long black-tufted ears, famous for leaping to snatch birds mid-flight)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSemien Mountains\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInscriptions in Ge’ez script\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatermark:\u003c\/strong\u003e “NATIONAL BANK OF ETHIOPIA” repeated throughout (visible under backlight)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSecurity Thread:\u003c\/strong\u003e Segmented foil security thread\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dubale Jale (DA) — Governor, National Bank of Ethiopia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSerial Number Prefix:\u003c\/strong\u003e CX–EI (variety h)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIssuing Bank:\u003c\/strong\u003e National Bank of Ethiopia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurrency:\u003c\/strong\u003e Birr (ISO: ETB, 1976–present)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDenomination:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5 Birr\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComposition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 140 × 65 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShape:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rectangular\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrinters:\u003c\/strong\u003e De La Rue, London, UK (1821–present); Giesecke+Devrient, Leipzig, Germany (1852–present)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCountry:\u003c\/strong\u003e Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (1995–present); previously People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (1987–1991); Derg military regime (1974–1987); Empire of Ethiopia (to 1974)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCoffee: Ethiopia’s Gift to the World\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Crop on the Banknote\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe figure on the obverse is not a generic agricultural worker — he is picking \u003cstrong\u003ecoffee\u003c\/strong\u003e, and that specificity matters enormously. Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee. The wild coffee plant (\u003cem\u003eCoffea arabica\u003c\/em\u003e) originated in the highland forests of the Kaffa region, and Ethiopians have been harvesting, roasting, and brewing it for well over a thousand years. The country remains one of the world’s top coffee producers, and coffee accounts for a substantial share of Ethiopia’s export earnings. To put a coffee picker on the national currency is to acknowledge, plainly, what keeps the economy alive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe coffee plant depicted to the right of the figure is botanically accurate — the red cherries, the dark leaves. For a collector, it is a small reminder that the best banknote designs are not abstract: they are portraits of a country’s actual life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Lion of Judah\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSymbol of Empire and Nation\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lion’s head at centre left is a direct reference to the \u003cstrong\u003eLion of Judah\u003c\/strong\u003e, one of Ethiopia’s most enduring national symbols. Under Emperor Haile Selassie, the Lion of Judah appeared on the imperial flag and coat of arms, representing the Solomonic dynasty’s claimed descent from the biblical King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The symbol survived the fall of the empire in 1974 and persists in Ethiopian iconography — on currency, in art, and in the global consciousness through the Rastafari movement, which regards Haile Selassie as a messianic figure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Reverse: Wildlife of the Ethiopian Highlands\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eKudu, Caracal, and the Semien Mountains\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse brings together two of Ethiopia’s most striking wild animals against the backdrop of the \u003cstrong\u003eSemien Mountains\u003c\/strong\u003e — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa’s most dramatic highland landscapes, with peaks exceeding 4,500 metres.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eGreater Kudu\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of Africa’s most elegant antelopes, recognizable by the male’s long spiral horns. The \u003cstrong\u003ecaracal\u003c\/strong\u003e — a medium-sized wild cat with distinctive tufted ears — ranges across Africa and into Asia, and is known for its extraordinary leaping ability. Their pairing on this note reflects Ethiopia’s remarkable biodiversity: the country is home to more endemic species than almost any other in Africa, a consequence of its varied altitude, climate, and geography.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA Final Reflection: The Weight of a Coffee Cherry\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 5 Birr note is not worth much in the market. But the coffee picker on its face represents an industry that feeds millions, a plant that changed the world’s mornings, and a country old enough to have given humanity one of its most beloved rituals. Ethiopia has been a civilization for three thousand years. It was never colonized — one of only two African nations to resist European partition. It has its own alphabet, its own calendar, its own church. All of that history is compressed, quietly, into a small rectangle of paper with a man and a coffee plant on the front.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA solid addition for collectors of African issues, Ethiopian series, or agricultural and wildlife-themed banknotes. Uncirculated examples of the final h variety are increasingly scarce as the design has been retired.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Money Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51799013523767,"sku":"ET47hU","price":1.09,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0969\/7165\/3431\/files\/Screenshot2026-03-23at10.16.40.png?v=1774276202"},{"product_id":"ethiopia-p-53a-10-birr-2020-u","title":"Ethiopia P-53a 10 Birr 2020 UNC—Coffee—Camel—Lion","description":"\u003cp\u003eEthiopia P-53a 10 Birr 2012 (2020), Uncirculated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e only one variety of P-53 (P-53a)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Green\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFront:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLion\u003c\/strong\u003e at left\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCamel\u003c\/strong\u003e at centre\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCoffee harvest \u003c\/strong\u003eat right\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInscriptions in Ge’ez and Latin scripts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBack:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo couples\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInscriptions in Ge’ez script\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatermark:\u003c\/strong\u003e Coffee harvester\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yinager Dessie (YD) — Governor, National Bank of Ethiopia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIssuing Bank:\u003c\/strong\u003e National Bank of Ethiopia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurrency:\u003c\/strong\u003e Birr (ISO: ETB, 1976–present)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDenomination:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10 Birr\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComposition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 142 × 67 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShape:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rectangular\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIssued:\u003c\/strong\u003e 14 September 2020\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Giesecke+Devrient, Leipzig, Germany (1852–present)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCountry:\u003c\/strong\u003e Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (1995–present); previously People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (1987–1991); Derg military regime (1974–1987); Empire of Ethiopia (to 1974)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThree Animals, One Economy\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eLion, Camel, and Coffee on the Obverse\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe obverse of this note is unusually rich in imagery for a single denomination — three distinct subjects sharing the same face. Each one earns its place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003elion\u003c\/strong\u003e at left is the Lion of Judah, Ethiopia’s most enduring national symbol, associated with the Solomonic imperial dynasty and the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie. It survived the fall of the empire in 1974 and remains embedded in Ethiopian iconography, on currency and in culture worldwide through the Rastafari movement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003ecamel\u003c\/strong\u003e at centre represents the lowland pastoral economy of Ethiopia’s Afar and Somali regions — a reminder that Ethiopia is not only the highland Christian kingdom of popular imagination but a vast, ecologically diverse country where camels are working animals and symbols of trade routes stretching back millennia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003ecoffee harvest\u003c\/strong\u003e at right needs little introduction. Ethiopia is the birthplace of \u003cem\u003eCoffea arabica\u003c\/em\u003e, and coffee remains the country’s most important export crop. Its presence on the 10 Birr note — as on the 5 Birr — is an acknowledgment of economic reality: coffee is what connects Ethiopia to the world’s breakfast tables.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Reverse: Two Couples\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePeople on the Banknote\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse depicts two couples — a relatively unusual choice for a banknote that might otherwise feature a landmark or landscape. The figures represent Ethiopia’s human diversity, a country of over 80 ethnic groups and as many languages. Placing ordinary people — not rulers, not monuments — on the reverse is a quiet democratic gesture, suggesting that the nation’s wealth belongs to its people as much as to its wildlife or its coffee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe 2020 Issue: Ethiopian Calendar Context\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis note carries the Ethiopian calendar year \u003cstrong\u003e2012\u003c\/strong\u003e, which corresponds to the Gregorian year \u003cstrong\u003e2020\u003c\/strong\u003e. Ethiopia uses its own calendar — the Ge’ez calendar — which runs approximately seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar and has thirteen months. The note was officially issued on \u003cstrong\u003e14 September 2020\u003c\/strong\u003e, the Ethiopian New Year’s Eve — a date chosen deliberately to mark the introduction of a new banknote series alongside a new year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA Final Reflection: A Country in Three Images\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost banknotes choose one thing to say about a country. This one chooses three: the ancient symbol of imperial and spiritual authority, the working animal of the desert trade routes, and the crop that feeds the national economy. Together, lion, camel, and coffee harvest sketch a portrait of Ethiopia that is more honest than most — a country of highlands and lowlands, of history and agriculture, of symbols that outlast the regimes that created them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA solid addition for collectors of African issues, Ethiopian series, or thematic collections focused on wildlife, agriculture, or world cultures. Issued in 2020 as part of a new series, Uncirculated examples remain readily available but will not stay that way indefinitely.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Money Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51799013556535,"sku":"ET53aU","price":1.69,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0969\/7165\/3431\/files\/53o_1f1a74ef-6c0d-4276-9dc8-9972268e38ea.jpg?v=1774283120"},{"product_id":"somaliland-p-6h-500-shillings-2011-unc","title":"Somaliland P-6h 500 Shillings 2011 UNC—Only Israel Recognizes This Country!","description":"\u003ch3\u003eBanknote Characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVarieties:\u003c\/strong\u003e Nine date varieties in the P-6 series — P-6a (1994, BHO\/AMG), P-6b (1996, AAM\/AMG), P-6c (1999, ADM₁\/AMG), P-6d (2002, ADM₁\/AMG), P-6e (2005, ADM₁\/AMG), P-6f (2006, ADM₁\/AMG), P-6g (2008, ADM₂\/AMG), \u003cstrong\u003eP-6h (2011, ADA\/AMG) — this note\u003c\/strong\u003e, P-6i (2016, AIJ\/U)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Obverse — predominantly blue and green; Reverse — green and brown tones\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFront:\u003c\/strong\u003e Main headquarters of the Bank of Somaliland (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bank_of_Somaliland\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBaanka Somaliland\u003c\/a\u003e) in \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hargeisa\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eHargeisa\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBack:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Berbera\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBerbera\u003c\/a\u003e dockside with herds of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Somali_sheep\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSomali sheep\u003c\/a\u003e and goats\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatermark:\u003c\/strong\u003e None; solid security strip windowed into six pieces on the obverse (reads \"BOS 500\" under backlight)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComposition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 145 × 66 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIssuing entity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bank of Somaliland (Baanka Somaliland)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDemonetized:\u003c\/strong\u003e No — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Somaliland_shilling\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSomaliland shilling\u003c\/a\u003e (1994–date) remains in circulation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e Abdi Dirir Abdi (ADA), Chairman; Abdi Mohamoud Gullet (AMG), Cashier\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurrency:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Somaliland_shilling\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSomaliland shilling\u003c\/a\u003e (1994–date)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAbout Somaliland\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCapital:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hargeisa\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eHargeisa\u003c\/a\u003e (city pop. ~1.2 million; metro ~1.5 million)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePopulation:\u003c\/strong\u003e ~5.7 million (UN 2023) — similar to \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Finland\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFinland\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wisconsin\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWisconsin\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArea:\u003c\/strong\u003e 137,600 km² (53,100 mi²)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGDP per capita at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Purchasing_power_parity\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePPP\u003c\/a\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e ~$1,800 USD (est.) — ranks among the lowest globally; no IMF membership as an unrecognized state\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMain exports:\u003c\/strong\u003e Livestock (sheep, goats, camels, cattle), hides and skins, frankincense\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBorders:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ethiopia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEthiopia\u003c\/a\u003e (south and west), \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Djibouti\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDjibouti\u003c\/a\u003e (northwest), \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Puntland\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePuntland\u003c\/a\u003e\/Somalia (east); Gulf of Aden (north)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOfficial\/spoken language:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Somali_language\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSomali\u003c\/a\u003e (~100% of population); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Arabic\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eArabic\u003c\/a\u003e holds co-official status for religious and administrative use\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSovereignty:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAncient and medieval Somali sultanates — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ifat_Sultanate\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eIfat\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Adal_Sultanate\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAdal\u003c\/a\u003e, and others (pre-1880s)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/British_Somaliland\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBritish Somaliland Protectorate\u003c\/a\u003e (1884–1960)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnion with Italian Somalia as the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Somali_Republic\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSomali Republic\u003c\/a\u003e (1960–1991)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Siad_Barre\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSiad Barre\u003c\/a\u003e dictatorship and collapse (1969–1991) — regime bombed Hargeisa in 1988, killing tens of thousands\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSelf-declared \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Somaliland\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRepublic of Somaliland\u003c\/a\u003e (1991–date) — recognized by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Israel\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eIsrael\u003c\/a\u003e in 2026; no other UN member state has followed — \u003cstrong\u003ethis note issued during this period\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSomaliland Unfiltered\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eSomaliland has held multiparty elections since 2003 — including peaceful transfers of power — in a region where that is genuinely rare.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 1988, the Siad Barre government bombed its own city of Hargeisa. An estimated 50,000–60,000 civilians were killed. A MiG jet on a plinth in the city center today marks the spot where one of those planes was shot down.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSomaliland issues its own currency, passports, license plates, and postage stamps — and has done so for over thirty years — yet only one UN member state recognizes it as a country.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe livestock trade through Berbera port — the very scene on the back of this note — is one of the largest in the world. At peak season, millions of sheep and goats move through for the Hajj market in Saudi Arabia.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOne Country Recognizes Somaliland. Just One.\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 2026, \u003cstrong\u003eIsrael became the first — and so far only — UN member state to formally recognize Somaliland\u003c\/strong\u003e as a sovereign nation. Thirty-five years of functioning government, democratic elections, a central bank, a currency, and a military. And the count of recognizing states is: one. The geopolitics are complicated — Israel's recognition came amid its own regional realignments — but the result is the same. \u003cstrong\u003eA country of 5.7 million people remains, in the eyes of the world, a legal fiction.\u003c\/strong\u003e This note is issued by that fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eA Country That Rebuilt Itself Without Anyone's Help\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen the Somali state collapsed in 1991, the northwest didn't wait. Clan elders convened a series of peace conferences — the most important at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Borama_conference\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBorama in 1993\u003c\/a\u003e — and hammered out a power-sharing arrangement that held. No UN peacekeepers. No foreign-brokered deal. \u003cstrong\u003eA functioning government emerged from the rubble of a bombed city through negotiation alone.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Bank of Somaliland opened in 1994 and introduced the Somaliland shilling at a rate of 1 new shilling for 100 Somali shillings. This 500-shilling note was part of that founding issue — the physical declaration that Somaliland was open for business on its own terms.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eThe Building on the Front Has Earned Its Place\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Bank of Somaliland headquarters in Hargeisa isn't just a symbol — it's the institution that has kept a parallel economy running for three decades without access to the IMF, World Bank, or SWIFT. \u003cstrong\u003eNo correspondent banking. No international reserves. Just a central bank doing central bank things in a country the world pretends doesn't exist.\u003c\/strong\u003e The 2011 date on this note places it squarely in Somaliland's most stable and confident era — after the chaos of the 1990s, before the political tensions of the late 2010s.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBerbera: Where the Livestock Go to Sea\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe reverse shows Berbera port — Somaliland's economic lifeline. Every year, \u003cstrong\u003emillions of sheep, goats, and camels\u003c\/strong\u003e are loaded onto dhows and cargo ships bound for Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the Gulf. The Hajj season alone can move 3–5 million animals through this port. It's one of the oldest livestock export routes in the world, and it's still running. The animals on this note aren't decorative — they're the GDP.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOwn This Note From the World's Most Overlooked Democracy\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSomaliland has a flag, a currency, an army, a supreme court, and a better democratic track record than most of its recognized neighbors. Now it has one ally. \u003cstrong\u003eThis note is legal tender in a functioning state that only one country on earth officially acknowledges\u003c\/strong\u003e — which makes it one of the more philosophically charged pieces of paper in any collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCrisp, uncirculated, and straight from a country that built itself from scratch — and is still waiting for the world to notice.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Money Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51799017292087,"sku":"SW6hU","price":1.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0969\/7165\/3431\/files\/6ho.jpg?v=1775358506"},{"product_id":"ethiopia-p-57-2020-w-100-birrs-2020-2012-ee-vf-blue-1","title":"Ethiopia P-57 100 Birr 2020 (2012 EE) VF+ (Very Fine Plus)—Castle— Obelisk—Cave","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking note from one of Africa's oldest civilizations, featuring two of Ethiopia's most iconic UNESCO World Heritage landmarks on a single face — the medieval castle of Emperor Fasilides in Gondar and the ancient Obelisk of Axum — printed by De La Rue on crisp paper stock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eFront\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColors:\u003c\/strong\u003e blue-green dominant engraving; light blue background; gold and orange accents\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eEmperor Fasilides' castle in Gondar, Amhara region\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eObelisk of Axum\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eDenomination in Ge'ez script (፻፡ብር) and Latin (ONE HUNDRED BIRR)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIssuer name in Ge'ez (የኢትዮጵያ ብሔራዊ ባንክ) and Latin (National Bank of Ethiopia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eBearer clause in both scripts\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.nbe.gov.et\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eYinager Dessie\u003c\/a\u003e, Gov.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eBack\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColors:\u003c\/strong\u003e brown and ochre dominant; tan background; green accents\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eSof Omar Cave in Bale Mountains National Park, Bale Province — one of the longest cave systems in Africa\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eDenomination in Ge'ez (መቶ፡ብር፡) and numeral (100)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eOther Characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVarieties:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e2012 EE (2020) YD\u003c\/em\u003e; \u003cstrong\u003e2015 EE (2023) YD — this note\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCatalog numbers:\u003c\/strong\u003e P-57; TBB B337; Numista N#280485\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatermark:\u003c\/strong\u003e Castle and obelisk\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComposition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 147 × 72 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIssuing entity:\u003c\/strong\u003e National Bank of Ethiopia (የኢትዮጵያ ብሔራዊ ባንክ)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/De_La_Rue\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDe La Rue\u003c\/a\u003e, London\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDemonetized:\u003c\/strong\u003e No\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.nbe.gov.et\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eYinager Dessie\u003c\/a\u003e, Gov.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurrency:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ethiopian_birr\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEthiopian Birr\u003c\/a\u003e (1976–date)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOfficial language(s):\u003c\/strong\u003e Amharic (federal); Oromo, Somali, Tigrinya, and others at regional level\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Ethiopia\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin of name:\u003c\/strong\u003e From the Greek \u003cem\u003eAithiopia\u003c\/em\u003e, meaning \"land of burnt faces\" — used by ancient Greeks to describe sub-Saharan Africa broadly; the name was adopted by the kingdom of Aksum and its successors\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCapital:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Addis_Ababa\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAddis Ababa\u003c\/a\u003e — city pop. ~3.9 million; metro pop. ~5.5 million\n    \u003cul\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin of name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Amharic for \"New Flower\" (አዲስ አበባ), named by Empress Taytu Betul when the capital was established in 1886\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ul\u003e\n  \u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePopulation:\u003c\/strong\u003e ~128 million (UN 2024) — roughly California + Texas combined\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArea:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1,104,300 km² (426,400 mi²) — comparable to Texas + California + Montana\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGDP per capita (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Purchasing_power_parity\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePPP\u003c\/a\u003e):\u003c\/strong\u003e ~$3,200 (IMF 2024)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMain exports:\u003c\/strong\u003e Coffee, sesame, cut flowers, gold, khat, leather goods\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBorders:\u003c\/strong\u003e Eritrea (north), Djibouti (northeast), Somalia (east and southeast), Kenya (south), South Sudan (west), Sudan (northwest)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOfficial\/spoken languages:\u003c\/strong\u003e Amharic (official federal language); Oromo (~35%), Amharic (~27%), Somali (~6%), Tigrinya (~6%), and 80+ other languages\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEthnicities:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oromo_people\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eOromo\u003c\/a\u003e (~35%); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Amhara_people\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAmhara\u003c\/a\u003e (~27%); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Somali_people\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSomali\u003c\/a\u003e (~6%); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tigrinya_people\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eTigrinya\u003c\/a\u003e (~6%); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sidama_people\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSidama\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gurage_people\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGurage\u003c\/a\u003e, and 80+ other groups\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMemberships:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/African_Union\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAfrican Union\u003c\/a\u003e (founding member, 1963; hosts secretariat in Addis Ababa); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_Nations\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eUnited Nations\u003c\/a\u003e (founding member, 1945); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Intergovernmental_Authority_on_Development\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eIGAD\u003c\/a\u003e (1996); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Common_Market_for_Eastern_and_Southern_Africa\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCOMESA\u003c\/a\u003e (1994)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSovereignty:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n    \u003cul\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eKingdom of Aksum (1st–7th century AD) — one of the great ancient empires; minted its own coins; adopted Christianity in the 4th century\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eZagwe dynasty (9th–13th century) — built the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eSolomonic dynasty restored (1270–1974) — claimed descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eEmperor Fasilides (r. 1632–1667) — built the castle complex in Gondar depicted on this note; established Gondar as the imperial capital\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eBattle of Adwa (1896) — Ethiopia defeated Italy, becoming the only African nation to repel a European colonial power during the Scramble for Africa\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eItalian occupation (1936–1941) — brief Fascist occupation under Mussolini; Emperor Haile Selassie restored by Allied forces\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eHaile Selassie era (1941–1974) — modernizing monarchy; Ethiopia was a founding member of the UN and the OAU\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eDerg military junta (1974–1991) — Marxist regime; famine of 1983–85 killed ~1 million people\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eFederal Democratic Republic (1995–date) — this note issued during this period\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ul\u003e\n  \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eEthiopia Unfiltered\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eEthiopia is the only country in Africa that was never colonized (the brief Italian occupation of 1936–41 notwithstanding) — a fact of enormous national pride\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIt uses its own calendar: the Ethiopian calendar has 13 months (12 of 30 days + one of 5 or 6 days) and runs ~7–8 years behind the Gregorian calendar — which is why this 2020-dated note carries the Ethiopian year 2012\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eEthiopia is the origin of coffee: the word \"coffee\" likely derives from \"Kaffa,\" a region in southwestern Ethiopia where \u003cem\u003eCoffea arabica\u003c\/em\u003e grows wild\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eAddis Ababa is the diplomatic capital of Africa — home to the African Union headquarters and more embassies than almost any other African city\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThe Sof Omar Cave on the reverse is one of the longest cave systems in Africa (~15 km of passages), carved by the Web River through limestone — and is considered sacred by local Muslim communities\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eEthiopia has one of the world's fastest-growing economies over the past two decades, yet remains one of the poorest by per capita income — a paradox driven by massive infrastructure investment and a population boom\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThe country has no coastline — it became landlocked in 1993 when Eritrea gained independence, cutting off access to the Red Sea ports of Massawa and Assab\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eLucy (\u003cem\u003eAustralopithecus afarensis\u003c\/em\u003e), one of the oldest known hominin fossils at 3.2 million years old, was discovered in Ethiopia's Afar region in 1974\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eTwo Landmarks, One Face\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe obverse of this note is a rare double act: the \u003cstrong\u003eRoyal Enclosure of Gondar\u003c\/strong\u003e and the \u003cstrong\u003eObelisk of Axum\u003c\/strong\u003e share the same face, representing two of Ethiopia's greatest historical epochs separated by over a millennium. Fasilides' castle — a 17th-century fusion of Portuguese, Indian, and local Aksumite architectural styles — anchors the Amhara highlands. The Axum obelisk, carved from a single granite slab around the 4th century AD, once stood 24 meters tall and was looted by Mussolini's forces in 1937, only to be returned by Italy in 2008 after decades of diplomatic pressure. Both are \u003cstrong\u003eUNESCO World Heritage Sites\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eInto the Earth: Sof Omar\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse takes you underground. The \u003cstrong\u003eSof Omar Cave\u003c\/strong\u003e in the Bale Mountains is not just a geological wonder — it is a living sacred site. Named after Sheikh Sof Omar, a 12th-century Islamic scholar who used the cave as a refuge, it remains a pilgrimage destination for Ethiopian Muslims. The Web River carved its way through the limestone over millennia, creating cathedral-like chambers and arched passages that stretch for 15 kilometers. It is one of the most spectacular cave systems on the continent, and almost no one outside Ethiopia has heard of it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eDe La Rue: The World's Banknote Printer\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDe La Rue\u003c\/strong\u003e, founded in London in 1821, is the world's largest commercial banknote printer — producing currency for over 140 countries. Their work on Ethiopian notes reflects the National Bank's preference for high-security, internationally produced currency during this period of rapid economic growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOwn this note and hold two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in your hand — plus a cave that has been sacred for 800 years. A collector's window into one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations, in Very Fine Plus condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Money Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52074904715575,"sku":"ET57-2020 (W)VF+","price":2.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0969\/7165\/3431\/files\/57-2020.webp?v=1780134187"},{"product_id":"ethiopia-p-57-20231-w-100-birrs-2023-2015-ee-vf-blue-1","title":"Ethiopia P-57 100 Birr 2023 (2015 EE) VF+ (Very Fine Plus)—Castle— Obelisk—Cave","description":"\u003cp\u003eEthiopia's 100 Birr note is a striking piece of East African numismatic history — anchored by two of the country's most iconic ancient monuments on the front and one of the world's most spectacular cave systems on the back. Printed by the legendary De La Rue of London, this is a note that rewards the collector who looks closely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eFront\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColors:\u003c\/strong\u003e blue (dominant engraving), green (background), gold accents\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eEmperor Fasilides' castle in Gondar, Amhara region — the centerpiece of the Royal Enclosure (Fasil Ghebbi), a UNESCO World Heritage Site\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eObelisk of Axum — one of the great monolithic stelae of the ancient Aksumite Empire\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eDenomination in Ge'ez (፻፡ብር) and Latin (ONE HUNDRED BIRR)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eScripts: Ge'ez and Latin\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.nbe.gov.et\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eYinager Dessie\u003c\/a\u003e, Gov., National Bank of Ethiopia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eBack\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColors:\u003c\/strong\u003e blue-green (dominant), brown accents\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eSof Omar Cave in Bale Mountains National Park, Bale Province — one of the longest cave systems in Africa, carved by the Web River through limestone\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eDenomination in Ge'ez (መቶ፡ብር፡ \/ ፻፡ብር) and numeral (100)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eScript: Ge'ez\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eOther Characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVarieties:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e2012 (2020) YD\u003c\/em\u003e; \u003cstrong\u003e2015 (2023) YD — this note\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCatalog numbers:\u003c\/strong\u003e P-57; TBB B337; Numista N#280485\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatermark:\u003c\/strong\u003e Castle and obelisk\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComposition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 147 × 72 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIssuing entity:\u003c\/strong\u003e National Bank of Ethiopia (የኢትዮጵያ ብሔራዊ ባንክ)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/De_La_Rue\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDe La Rue\u003c\/a\u003e, London\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDemonetized:\u003c\/strong\u003e No — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Demonetization_(currency)\" target=\"_blank\"\u003edemonetization\u003c\/a\u003e status current as of listing\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.nbe.gov.et\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eYinager Dessie\u003c\/a\u003e, Gov.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurrency:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ethiopian_birr\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEthiopian Birr\u003c\/a\u003e (1976–date)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOfficial language(s):\u003c\/strong\u003e Amharic (federal); numerous regional languages recognized\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Ethiopia\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin of name:\u003c\/strong\u003e From the Greek \u003cem\u003eAithiopia\u003c\/em\u003e, derived from \u003cem\u003eaithiops\u003c\/em\u003e — \"burnt face\" — a term ancient Greeks used for sub-Saharan Africans; also linked to the legendary King Ethiopis, son of Cush\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCapital:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Addis_Ababa\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAddis Ababa\u003c\/a\u003e (city pop. ~3.9 million; metro ~5.5 million)\n    \u003cul\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin of name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Amharic for \"New Flower\" — named by Empress Taytu Betul when the capital was established in 1886\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ul\u003e\n  \u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePopulation:\u003c\/strong\u003e ~130 million (UN 2024) — comparable to Mexico or the combined populations of Germany and France\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArea:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1,104,300 km² (426,400 mi²) — slightly larger than Texas and California combined; comparable to Egypt\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGDP per capita (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Purchasing_power_parity\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePPP\u003c\/a\u003e):\u003c\/strong\u003e ~$3,200 (IMF 2024)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMain exports:\u003c\/strong\u003e Coffee, sesame, cut flowers, gold, khat, leather goods\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBorders:\u003c\/strong\u003e Eritrea (north), Djibouti (northeast), Somalia (east and southeast), Kenya (south), South Sudan (west), Sudan (northwest)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOfficial\/spoken languages:\u003c\/strong\u003e Amharic (official federal language); Oromo, Somali, Tigrinya, Sidamo, and 80+ other languages spoken across regions\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEthnicities:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oromo_people\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eOromo\u003c\/a\u003e (~35%); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Amhara_people\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAmhara\u003c\/a\u003e (~27%); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Somali_people\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSomali\u003c\/a\u003e (~6%); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tigrinya_people\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eTigrinya\u003c\/a\u003e (~6%); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sidama_people\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSidama\u003c\/a\u003e (~4%); others\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMemberships:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/African_Union\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAfrican Union\u003c\/a\u003e (founding member, 1963 — hosts AU secretariat in Addis Ababa); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_Nations\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eUnited Nations\u003c\/a\u003e (founding member, 1945); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Non-Aligned_Movement\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNon-Aligned Movement\u003c\/a\u003e; \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Common_Market_for_Eastern_and_Southern_Africa\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCOMESA\u003c\/a\u003e;\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSovereignty:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n    \u003cul\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eAncient Aksumite Empire (1st–7th century AD) — one of the great trading civilizations of antiquity; adopted Christianity in the 4th century\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eZagwe dynasty (9th–13th century) — builders of the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eSolomonic dynasty restored (1270–1974) — claimed descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eEmperor Fasilides (r. 1632–1667) — built the Royal Enclosure at Gondar, depicted on this note\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eBattle of Adwa (1896) — Ethiopia defeats Italy, becoming the only African nation to repel a European colonial power during the Scramble for Africa\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eItalian occupation (1936–1941) — brief Fascist occupation under Mussolini; Emperor Haile Selassie restored by Allied forces\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eHaile Selassie era (1941–1974) — modernizing monarchy; Ethiopia joins the UN as a founding member\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eDerg military junta (1974–1991) — Marxist-Leninist regime; Red Terror; devastating famines\u003c\/li\u003e\n      \u003cli\u003eFederal Democratic Republic (1995–date) — \u003cem\u003ethis note issued during this period\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ul\u003e\n  \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eEthiopia Unfiltered\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eEthiopia is the only country in Africa never to have been fully colonized — the 1896 Battle of Adwa, where Emperor Menelik II crushed an Italian invasion force, remains one of the most consequential military upsets in modern history\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eEthiopia uses its own calendar — the Ethiopian calendar has 13 months (12 of 30 days, plus a 13th month of 5 or 6 days) and runs roughly 7–8 years behind the Gregorian calendar; the year 2015 EE = 2023 CE\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eCoffee was born here — the word \"coffee\" traces to the Kaffa region of Ethiopia, where Coffea arabica grows wild; Ethiopia remains the world's largest coffee producer in Africa and fifth globally\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eAddis Ababa is the diplomatic capital of Africa — it hosts the African Union headquarters, the UN Economic Commission for Africa, and more embassies than almost any other African city\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThe Danakil Depression in Ethiopia is one of the hottest and lowest places on Earth — averaging 34°C year-round, with active lava lakes and neon-yellow sulfur springs that look like another planet\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eEthiopia has one of the world's oldest Christian traditions — the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church dates to the 4th century AD, predating most European Christian institutions\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThe country is landlocked — Ethiopia lost its coastline when Eritrea gained independence in 1993, making it the world's most populous landlocked nation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eTwo Monuments, One Note\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe front of this 100 Birr note is a quiet declaration of Ethiopian civilization. \u003cstrong\u003eFasilides' Castle\u003c\/strong\u003e in Gondar was built in the 1630s by an emperor who wanted to end centuries of wandering — Ethiopia's royal court had no fixed capital until Fasilides planted his flag in the highlands of Amhara. The result was a walled city of palaces, churches, and baths that still stands today as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Beside it rises the \u003cstrong\u003eObelisk of Axum\u003c\/strong\u003e — a 1,700-year-old monolithic stele from the Aksumite Empire, one of the ancient world's great trading powers. The obelisk was looted by Mussolini's forces in 1937, stood in Rome for decades, and was finally returned to Ethiopia in 2008. Its presence on this note is not decorative — it is a statement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Cave That Swallowed a River\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the back, the \u003cstrong\u003eSof Omar Cave\u003c\/strong\u003e in the Bale Mountains is one of Africa's longest cave systems — over 15 km of passages carved by the Web River through ancient limestone. Sacred to local Muslims (the cave is named for Sheikh Sof Omar, who used it as a place of worship), it is also a geological marvel: cathedral-like chambers, soaring arches, and a river that disappears underground and re-emerges kilometers away. It is the kind of place that makes you feel small in the best possible way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOwn This Note\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOwn this \u003cstrong\u003eEthiopia P-57 100 Birr 2023 (2015 EE)\u003c\/strong\u003e in \u003cstrong\u003eVery Fine Plus\u003c\/strong\u003e condition — a note that carries two of Africa's most storied monuments on one side and one of its most spectacular natural wonders on the other. Printed by De La Rue of London, issued by the National Bank of Ethiopia, and signed by Governor Yinager Dessie. A cornerstone piece for any East Africa or world banknote collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGrading is per standard international banknote grading conventions. All notes ship in protective sleeves.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Money Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52074904748343,"sku":"ET57-2023(1) (W)VF+","price":2.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0969\/7165\/3431\/files\/57-2023_1_o-1.jpg?v=1780133946"}],"url":"https:\/\/worldmoneystore.com\/collections\/horn-of-africa-ethiopia-eritrea-somalia-somaliland-djibouti.oembed","provider":"World Money Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}