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3. Sino-Tibetan, Chia Ching (1796-1820), 1-Sho, year 2.
5. 1-Tael. Undated (c.1908) – Obverse inscription reads xi zang yuan liang (Tibet, One Liang).
4. Szechuan “Butterfly” Rupee, undated (1902-10). 6. 10-Tam pattern. Issued in the time of the 13th Dalai Lama, undated (c.1910). Ex. Gabrisch Collection, Baldwins, 2005.
5.6g. Nicholas Rhodes suggested that by 1811 they were all accepted
Our fourth coin marks a great departure from the previous types.
at the same value.* The smaller denominations are now rare, but the
During the 19th century Indian coins had become popular in Tibet,
1-Sho of year 2 of Chia Ching in illustration 3 is one of the scarcest
and the Rupee was accepted as far east as Yunnan and Szechuan at
coins of the series; the finest of three known examples. These coins
a value of three Tangkas. Although Szechuan province had received
were struck until 1836, and circulated at a time when foreigners
a machine intended for minting Chinese ‘dragon’ coins, these had
were excluded from Tibet.
not been well received when production started in 1901. So the
By 1840, Chinese control over Tibet had weakened once again and
spare mint capacity was used to make a coin that was modelled on the Indian Rupee. The bust of Victoria was replaced with
a purely Tibetan coin, the Ga-den Tangka, was produced. One of
one of the Chinese Emperor, Kuang-hsu, and the wreath on the
the commonest of the Tibetan series, its design appears very much
reverse was adapted to contain Chinese characters indicating the
inspired by that of earlier Nepalese coins. It is undated but comes
mint of Szechuan. Although initially issued at a discount of 20%
in many minor varieties, having a similar inscription to that found
to the Indian Rupee they were soon accepted and made in great
on the Sri Mangalam Tangka: Ga-den Pho-dang tschog-le nam-gyal
quantities. First produced in late 1902 or 1903 it is thought that
(Ga-den Palace victorious on all sides). The obverse features the
production continued until 1938, but this is uncertain as Szechuan
eight auspicious symbols of Buddhism, known as the Ta-shi ta-
was in the hands of warlords until 1937. As there are two main
gye in Tibetan and the Ashta Mangala in Sanskrit. These symbols:
types and several different varieties it is believed they were struck
two golden fish, a pot of ambrosia, a lotus flower, conch shell,
at various mints during this period, and also in half and quarter
the symbol representing endless rebirths, the banner of victory, a
Rupee denominations, although these are rare. Illustration 4 is of
chackra or wheel, and the umbrella of sovereignty, had featured on
an example featuring a butterfly shaped leaf on the reverse in the
many of the earliest coins of India and South East Asia, but Tibet
upper right hand section of the wreath. This variety is very popular
alone continued their use well into the 20th century.
in China and has achieved high prices in Beijing auctions.
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