Catalog
1/2 Rupee / Deb Period III
| Issuer | Kingdom of Bhutan |
|---|---|
| Year | 1885-1910 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Hammered |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Tibetan |
| Obverse lettering | ནྡྲ |
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| Additional information |
Bhutan's Deb coinage was issued under the authority of the Druk Desi — the temporal ruler — rather than the Dharma Raja, reflecting the administrative split that governed the kingdom until the Wangchuck dynasty consolidated power in 1907. The coins of this period were struck with rudimentary local dies, and the copper-brass composition varies noticeably between pieces, suggesting the mint drew on whatever alloy stock was at hand rather than maintaining strict metallurgical standards.
KM#15.2 is distinguished from the broader 15.x series by its die characteristics. Bhutan would abandon the Deb coinage system entirely following Ugyen Wangchuck's coronation as the first hereditary King.