10 Ethiopian Birr Banknote (Camel)

10 Birr Birr / Dollar / Thaler (Issued 2012)

Ethiopia’s deep agricultural heritage and the enduring cultural symbolism of the lion find vivid expression in the 2012 issue of the ten birr banknote, a denomination that circulates widely across one of Africa’s most populous nations. The imagery chosen for this note reflects the everyday lives of Ethiopian people — farmers working the land, the national pride associated with the lion, and the unity of a diverse population — all woven into a design that speaks directly to the country’s identity. Issued by the National Bank of Ethiopia as part of the latest birr series incorporating contemporary security enhancements, this note represents a deliberate effort to modernise the currency whilst honouring longstanding cultural themes. At the time of issue, these visual choices resonated strongly with a population whose livelihoods and traditions are deeply rooted in the land and its communities.

On the front, the dominant colour scheme is a fresh, layered green across the entire face of the note, with subtle tonal variation creating depth in the engraved imagery. The central vignette features an Ethiopian farmer engaged in agricultural work — depicted in a detailed intaglio style — alongside a prominent rendition of a lion’s head to his left, rendered with fine engraved line work that gives the mane a textured, three-dimensional quality. The lion, a long-standing symbol of Ethiopian national pride and sovereignty, occupies a substantial portion of the lower-left field. To the upper centre, the issuing authority is named in both Amharic script and English as “National Bank of Ethiopia,” set in clean serif typography. The denomination appears prominently in both Amharic — አምር ብር — and English as “TEN BIRR,” with the numeral “10” appearing in bold at the lower left and lower right corners. The serial number AX8599951 appears twice: once in the upper-left area and once towards the right of the note in dark ink. Guilloché patterning forms the background across the note, with fine geometric rosette and wave designs providing an intricate security substrate. The year 2012 is printed below the Governor’s signature line, accompanied by the word “GOVERNOR” in English and a manuscript signature, with the additional year 2020 also visible alongside. A vertical security strip is embedded within the paper, visible as a thin dark line running through the note. The Amharic text stating the note is payable to the bearer on demand appears centrally, accompanied by its English translation “Payable to the bearer on demand.” In the upper corners, the denomination “፲ ብር” appears in stylised Amharic numerals framed within ornamental cartouches. Optically variable or colour-shifting ink elements are present in the corner denomination devices, which shift appearance under different lighting angles.

The reverse of the note continues the green colour palette established on the front, with a central figurative scene depicting four individuals — two men and two women — standing together with their hands joined at the centre in a gesture of unity. The group is rendered in a soft intaglio engraving style, with fine line shading giving the figures a naturalistic appearance against the light green background. This scene of communal harmony reflects Ethiopia’s multi-ethnic society and the national aspiration for unity across its diverse population. To the right of the central group, a traditional Ethiopian woven basket or storage vessel is depicted in detailed engraving, its latticed pattern rendered with precision. The upper portion of the reverse carries the “National Bank of Ethiopia” name in Amharic script, while the numeral “10” appears in the upper right and lower left corners. Fine guilloché patterns fill the background, with layered geometric and wave formations providing visual complexity and counterfeit deterrence. A decorative border of repeating geometric motifs frames the entire reverse design, rendered in a slightly darker green shade to define the edges of the note. The paper itself shows the characteristic texture of modern security substrate, with watermark elements visible as lighter tonal areas within the body of the note when held to the light.

Whether it is a single 10 Birr banknote or a mix of leftover currency, Webuyallcurrency.com exchanges Ethiopian Birr banknotes and other foreign coins and notes for cash in one straightforward process.

• Indicate the quantity of 10 Birr Birr / Dollar / Thaler banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

From leftover holiday money to inherited collections, Webuyallcurrency.com will exchange or buy your Ethiopian Birr banknotes and other foreign currency, handling old and withdrawn pieces in the same simple process.

Other Ethiopian Birr you can exchange: 50, 100, 200.