Owner Comments:
Ethiopia - EE1936 (1944) (this coin minted in 1947) - 50 Cent, KM #37a - Mintage: 20,433,730
Total Mintage all types: 50,433,730
These coins, designed by Gilroy Roberts were actually struck in 1944, 1945, and 1947 by the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, all with the same Amharic date of EE1936. The Amharic date plus eight results in the A.D. date of 1944.
The actual mintages by year were:
1944...........763,000 (.800 silver, .200 copper)
1945......29,237,000 (.800 silver, .200 copper)
1947......20,433,730 (.700 silver, .300 copper) <=== this coin
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Total......50,433,730
The obverse shows a bust of Haile Selassie I facing left with the date below, and the reverse is a crowned lion facing right with his right foreleg raised holding a ribboned cross with the denomination below. It is a silver coin (70% silver, 30% copper) with a reeded edge. Another interesting characteristic is that these coins were struck with medallic rotation instead of the normal top to bottom coin rotation.
This particular coin was the first to be specifically identified as a 70% silver coin minted in 1947 although it is not stated on the label. A cert. verification does identify it as a 70% silver coin though. There is now one other graded higher with specific identification of being 70% silver. There may be others as well although not specifically identified. Only an assay or specific gravity test can identify an 80% silver specimen from a 70% silver coin since the design is otherwise identical. I assume that NGC must have made this determination by a very accurate weighing or possibly a specific gravity test.
Date acquired: 10/30/2017 (raw coin)
Date graded: 9/28/2018 (self submitted to NGC)
Rev. 11/24/2020