Expert: Brad Swain - 3/27/2010

Question
Hello Brad , Could you please identify for me this ethiopian coin, it has on one side an african seeming man, his hair is almost afro I think, and he is wearing a tie ,and when you face it it is looking to the right. On the reverse side there is a lion standing on four legs and facing front it is wearing a crown and holding with his front-right leg a pole ended by a cross and a banner.
note:the diameter of the coin is 2mm
and on the lion side it has some writings on it "ሃሮ፡እምስት፡ሳንቲም"
and I couldn't Identify the letters on the mans side
the coin surrounding is not of one level it is like "in and out"
and this coin has no numbers on it.
please give me this info:
1-The year that this coin was made.
2-The possible price of it and where to sell it.
3-If you know ethiopian language, could you please translate those words on the lions side.
4-Who is the man on the first side.

Answer
Hi Moad, If you have clear pictures (not over 1 megabyte each please) you can email them to me at tbirde@psknet.com.
World coin pictures and some values may be found here: http://worldcoingallery.com/index.htm ,
http://www.coinarchives.com/ , and http://www.numismaster.com/ta/numis.jsp .
Emperor Haile Selassie's portraits face left. The 5 cents coin is 20 millimeters and round.
With more info I'll be glad to help further.
You might also try a library for a copy of the Standard Catalog of World Coins for pictures, values and lots more interesting info.
Brad