Bhutan's 1979 platinum issues were produced as part of a prestige bullion program released under Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who had assumed the throne in 1972 at age sixteen following his father's sudden death. The series was struck by the Royal Mint in London under contract — Bhutan had no domestic minting capability at the time. Platinum at .950 fineness was an unusual choice for a sovereign issue in this period; most nations were still anchored to gold for prestige coinage.
KM#53a is the platinum variant of a type also struck in gold, distinguishing it within the catalog by composition alone.
Bhutan's 1979 platinum issues were produced as part of a prestige bullion program released under Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who had assumed the throne in 1972 at age sixteen following his father's sudden death. The series was struck by the Royal Mint in London under contract — Bhutan had no domestic minting capability at the time. Platinum at .950 fineness was an unusual choice for a sovereign issue in this period; most nations were still anchored to gold for prestige coinage.
KM#53a is the platinum variant of a type also struck in gold, distinguishing it within the catalog by composition alone.