500 Birr / Ethiopian Dollars

The State Bank of Ethiopia was established in 1942 to replace the Bank of Ethiopia, which had been liquidated under Italian occupation. This note belongs to the bank's first full series of domestic currency following the restoration of Haile Selassie's government after the liberation from Italian forces — a period when Ethiopia was simultaneously rebuilding financial institutions and navigating tight monetary arrangements with Britain.

Security Banknote Company of Philadelphia produced the series, though their attribution here carries a question mark that collectors should treat seriously. Three different signature combinations appear across the P#17 series, reflecting staff turnover at the bank's senior levels over the eleven-year issue window.