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1/2 Rupee / Deb Period I
| Issuer | Bhutan |
|---|---|
| Year | 1790-1820 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | 2.33 mm |
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| Obverse description | Central field divided by a bold cross-shaped framework into quadrants, featuring a stylized anthropomorphic figure rendered in a highly schematic manner, with rounded head, outstretched limbs, and pronounced circular pellets at the joints. To the left quadrant, a crescent or floral ornament is visible, while the right field displays additional symbolic devices including a crescent and pellets. The overall design is enclosed within a circular border with irregular hammered edges, typical of early Bhutanese coinage. The execution is bold and deeply struck, consistent with indigenous workshop production of the late 18th to early 19th century. |
|---|---|
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| Mintage | ND (1790-1820) |
| Additional information |
Bhutan's earliest coinage emerged not from a sophisticated mint infrastructure but from a loosely organized production system tied to the Druk Desi — the temporal rulers who governed alongside the Je Khenpo during this period. The coins were struck by hand, with considerable variation in flan preparation and die alignment, which is why no two examples from this thirty-year window are quite alike. The "Deb" designation itself derives from "Deb Raja," the title applied by British East India Company officials to the Druk Desi in their diplomatic correspondence.
Company traders encountered these coins primarily in the foothills markets along the Bengal frontier.