Owner Comments:
Ethiopia - EE1936 (1943-1944) - 25 Cent, Assir Santeem KM #35 Plain Edge - Mintage: 10,000,000, but only 421,500 were issued
These coins were minted and withdrawn in 1952 to be replaced by KM#36 which has a crimped edge.
These coins were struck with medallic rotation and a reeded edge.
Designed in Philadelphia by John Sinnoch (obverse) and Gilroy Roberts (reverse)
These coins were actually struck in 1952 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 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 bronze coin (95% copper, 5% zinc) with a reeded edge. These coins have a diameter of 26mm, which is almost indistinguishable in size from the silver 50 Centime coin which was 25mm in diameter, also having a reeded edge. Even though the denomination appears on the reverse of each coin, very few in the country could read which made it very convenient for unscrupulous individuals to silver plate these coins and pass them off as 50 centime pieces for a quick 25 centime profit. The coins were withdrawn and retrofitted by hand with a scalloped edge. Later issues of the 25 centime coins were minted with a special milling collar to form the scallops around the edge of the coin.
These coins are rare to begin with, and I suspect that high grade, full red specimens like this one are quite rare. This is the first and only example I've found of the round version with a normal reeded edge. It is great example of this rare and historic coin, and I feel very lucky to be able to add it to my collection.
Date acquired: 2/19/2020 (already graded by NNC )
Date graded: 7/27/2020 (self submitted to NGC)
Rev. 7/24/2023