Birr Currency Explained from Past to Present

The birr currency has a rich history dating back to 1976, when it was introduced to replace the Ethiopian dollar and the birr's precursor, the Ethiopian pound.

The birr was initially pegged to the US dollar at a rate of 2.07 birr per dollar, a rate that remained stable for many years.

In 1992, a new birr was introduced, replacing the old birr at a rate of 1:1,000. This move aimed to reduce inflation and stabilize the economy.

Today, the birr is still the official currency of Ethiopia, widely accepted and used throughout the country.

The birr has a rich history that dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries, when Maria Theresa thalers and blocks of salt called amole tchew served as currency in Ethiopia.

The Maria Theresa thaler was officially adopted as the standard coin in 1855, and the Ethiopian talari became the standard unit in 1893. This coin was used for foreign trade, and 200,000 were produced at the Paris Mint in 1894 for Menelik II.

The birr was divided into smaller units, including ghersh and bessa, with 1 birr equivalent to 20 ghersh or 40 bessa. In 1903, a new silver birr was introduced, along with a quarter-birr and a silver ghersh.

The first birr was introduced in 1855 as the standard coin in Ethiopia. It was known locally as the birr or talari, and was equivalent to the Maria Theresa thaler.

The Maria Theresa thaler was a widely used currency in the 18th and 19th centuries, and was even used in foreign trade in Ethiopia. It was minted in Austria and is still being produced today.

The Ethiopian talari was introduced in 1893 and was produced in large quantities, including 200,000 coins minted in Paris in 1894 for Menelik II. This coin was divided into 20 ghersh or 40 bessa.

In 1903, a new Ethiopian coinage was introduced, featuring a silver birr that maintained the same weight and fineness as the talari. The new coinage also included a quarter-birr and a silver ghersh.

The Bank of Abyssinia was established in 1905 and was officially inaugurated in 1906 by Menelik. The bank initially imported Maria Theresa thalers and didn't start putting banknotes into circulation until 1915.

The banknotes were denominated in birr and thaler, and were initially used by merchants and foreigners but not widely accepted. However, note circulation increased significantly after 1925.

By the mid-1930s, circulation consisted mainly of Maria Theresa thalers and Menelik talaris.

The USD exchange rate history for the Ethiopian Birr (ETB) is a fascinating topic. As of January 2025, the exchange rate remained relatively stable, with 1 ETB equaling 0.0079 USD from January 12th to 15th.

On the 10th of January, the rate slightly increased to 0.008 USD. This small change might not seem significant, but it's a notable shift in the exchange rate.

Here's a breakdown of the exchange rate history for the week of January 6th to 12th:

The stability of the exchange rate during this period suggests a consistent market trend.

In 2020, the Ethiopian government introduced new banknotes of 10, 50, 100, and 200 birrs to tackle inflation.

The 200-birr banknote is a high denomination note, aiming to curb inflation. It was issued in September 2020, and older issues of 10, 50, and 100 birr notes were demonetized in December.

Over 113 billion birrs, equivalent to $3.6 billion, remain hidden from the banks, and the government believes this money is fueling the country's instability.

The birr was reintroduced in 1945 at a rate of 1 birr per 2 shillings.

It was pegged to the U.S. dollar at a central rate of 1 birr = US$0.4025, or 2.48447 birr = US$1.

A slight change was made to this rate on December 31, 1963, where 2.50 birr became equal to US$1.

The name Ethiopian dollar was used in English text on banknotes until 1976.

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In 2020, Ethiopia introduced new banknote denominations of 10, 50, 100, and 200 birrs.

The 200-birr banknote was introduced as a high denomination note to tackle inflation.

The older issues of 10, 50, and 100 birr notes were demonetized in December 2020.

The federal government reported that over 113 billion birrs ($3.6 billion) remain hidden from the banks.

Ethiopian banks took in 14 billion birrs (around $500 million) into their system in just a month, with expectations to increase by the end of 2020.

The country spent 3.7 billion birrs ($101.2 million) to print the new banknotes.

Companies and individuals can only cash up to 1.5 million birrs ($41,000).

The Ethiopian Birr is the official currency of Ethiopia, and as of 17/01/2025, 1 Ethiopian Birr is equivalent to 0.0079 US Dollar.

You can easily convert ETB to USD using live currency rates on various online platforms. The current exchange rate is constantly updated to reflect the live market value.

The Ethiopian Birr has undergone significant changes in its currency denominations over the years. The Bank of Abyssinia introduced banknotes for 5, 10, 100, and 500 talaris in 1915, and later the Bank of Ethiopia issued notes in denominations of 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500 talaris in 1932.

The interbank rate is the exchange rate used by banks and large institutions when trading large volumes of foreign currency with one another.

It's not made for individuals and smaller businesses, as they tend to attract a higher mark-up, allowing the exchange to make a profit.

This rate is also known as the mid-market rate, the spot rate, or the real exchange rate.

As a result, individuals and smaller businesses are often charged a higher rate than the interbank rate, which can add up quickly.

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The Ethiopian birr has a distinct appearance that can help you identify it. Coins dated before 1977 feature the Conquering Lion of Judah, a crowned rampant lion holding a cross.

Coins dated 1977 or later picture the head of a roaring lion with a flowing mane. This is a notable change in design that can help you tell the difference between older and newer coins.

Coins were struck at several mints, including Paris, Berlin, and Addis Ababa. The mint mark can provide a clue about the coin's origin.

Coins without mint marks were generally struck at Addis Ababa, which can be helpful if you're trying to determine where a particular coin was made.

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The Ethiopian birr has a fascinating history when it comes to banknotes. The Bank of Abyssinia introduced banknotes for 5, 10, 100, and 500 talaris in 1915.

These early banknotes featured text in Amharic and French, and 280,000 talaris worth of notes were printed. A 50-talari note was added in 1929.

In 1932, the Bank of Ethiopia issued notes in denominations of 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500 talaris. By the end of 1934, some 3.3 million talaris in notes were circulating.

A 2-talari note dated 1 June 1933 was issued in honour of the Imperial couple. The National Bank of Ethiopia took over note production in 1966 and issued all denominations except for the 500 birr.

New banknote denominations were introduced in 2020, with 10, 50, 100, and 200 birr notes being added. The 200-birr banknote is a new denomination aimed at tackling inflation.