Ethiopian numbers:

Ethiopian numbers are distinguishable from the alphabet on the coin by the lines above and below the symbols used.

The dating is based on the Ethiopian Era (EE). The date on the coin + 8 will give the AD date.

Numbers are read from left to right.

Example 1:

Numbers 10 8 100 80 9.
Date calculation (10 + 8) = 18 x 100 + 80 + 9 = EE 1889 = 1897 AD.

Example 2:

Numbers 10 9 100 30 6.
Date calculation (10 + 9) = 19 x 100 + 30 + 6 = EE 1936 = 1944 AD.

Example 3:

Numbers 10 9 100 60 9.
Date calculation (10 + 9) = 19 x 100 + 60 + 9 = EE1969 = 1976 AD.

Example 4:

In the case of EE2000 only the number 2 is shown followed by letters to denote ‘thousand’.
EE200 = 2008 AD.

Care must be taken to distinguish between the numbers 8, 20 and 60. In most cases the coin will give a clue as to the period.