1/2 Rupee / Deb Period I

Bhutan's copper coinage of this period was struck by hand using rudimentary local dies, with no centralized mint facility — production occurred intermittently across different locations, which accounts for the dramatic variation in fabric, centering, and die alignment that distinguishes KM#4.1 from KM#4.2. The "Deb" in the type name refers to the Druk Desi, Bhutan's administrative ruler operating beneath the theocratic authority of the Je Khenpo. Neither position held exclusive control over coinage policy.

The seventy-five-year span assigned to this type reflects genuine uncertainty rather than continuous production.