5 Chetrums - Jigme Singye

The Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan was itself only established in 1982, meaning coins issued under its name in 1974–75 predate the institution as a functioning central bank — these were struck in anticipation of a formal monetary framework that had not yet been fully codified. Bhutan's currency had long operated alongside Indian rupees, which remained legal tender well into this period, so early RMA-attributed issues circulated in a genuinely bifurcated monetary environment.

Aluminium was the practical choice for low-denomination coinage across developing nations in the 1970s as silver and bronze costs rose sharply. At 1.48 grams, these pieces wore and bent easily in circulation.