The 5 Birr 2017 banknote was issued by the National Bank of Ethiopia as part of the updated birr series.
The obverse features a portrait of Emperor Menelik II (1844–1913), renowned for leading Ethiopia to victory at the Battle of Adwa and modernizing the country.
The reverse depicts the Axum Obelisk, a symbol of Ethiopia’s ancient civilization, along with stylized patterns reflecting the country’s cultural heritage.
The note is printed on cotton-based paper and includes a watermark of Emperor Menelik II, security thread, and other modern security features.
Dimensions: 136 × 65 mm.
Obverse
Man picking coffee beans at center, coffee plant at right, lion’s head at center left.
Lettering:
፭፡ብር
የኢትዮጵያ ብሔራዊ ባንክ
National Bank of Ethiopia
ላምጪው፡አንዴከፈል፡ሕግ፡ያሰገዽዷል።
Payable to bearer on demand
አምስት፡ብር፡ FIVE BIRR
Translation:
5 Birr
National Bank of Ethiopia
Payable to bearer on demand
Five Birr
Reverse
Kudu, caracal and Semien Mountains.
Lettering:
አምስት፡ብር፡
፭፡ብር
5
Translation:
Five Birr
5 Birr
Signatures
| Dubale Jale (DJ) | Governor |  |
| Teklewold Atnafu (TA) | Governor |  |
Printers
De La Rue (Thomas de la Rue; Thomas De La Rue & Co.; TDLR), London, United Kingdom (1821-date)
Giesecke+Devrient (Giesecke & Devrient), Leipzig, Germany (1852-date)
Comments
Segmented foil security thread. When seen under a backlight, the inscription “NATIONAL BANK OF ETHIOPIA” is repeated throughout:
© Kiet Tran
UV activity:
© gyoschak
Features
| Issuer | Ethiopia |
|---|---|
| Issuing bank | National Bank of Ethiopia (የኢትዮጵያ ብሔራዊ ባንክ) |
| Period | Federal Democratic Republic (ፌዴራላዊ ዲሞክራሲያዊ ሪፐብሊክ) (1995-date) |
| Type | Standard circulation banknotes |
| Years | 1989-2009 (1997-2017) |
| Calendar | Ethiopian |
| Value | 5 Birrs (አምስት፡ብር) 5 ETB = EUR 0.030 |
| Currency | Birr (1976-date) |
| Composition | Paper |
| Size | 140 × 65 mm |
| Shape | Rectangular |
