Bhutan

Bhutan (1626-1907), Kingdom of Bhutan (1907-present)

Independent country in South Asia

Location: Eastern Himalayas

Capital City: Thimphu (Punakha was the winter capital from 1636-1954)

Government type: Dual System (1626-1907), Absolute Monarchy (1907-2008), Semi-constitutional Monarchy (2008-present)

Main languages: Dzongkha, Sharchop, Dzala, Kheng

Main religions: Vajrayana Buddhism

Chronology

1626: Bhutan founded

1838-1845: Divided between rival governments in Thimphu and Punakha

1865-1971: Protectorate of India

1907: Dual System replaced by centralized monarchy

Currency

Rupee (1789-1957)

1 Rupee = 2 Deb = 64 Paisa

Decimalized Rupee (1957-1974)

1 Rupee = 100 Paisa

Ngultrum (1974-present)

1 Ngultrum = 100 Chhertum

Coins from Bhutan in the collection

Dual Government 1626-1907

•1 Deb, 1835-1885 (copper, KM#7.1a)

Kingdom (1907-present)

•1 Paisa, 1954 (King Jigme Dorji (1952-1972), bronze, Calcutta mint, KM#27)

•1 Deb, 1910-1927 (King Ugyen (1907-1926), copper, KM#20a)

•5 Chhetrum, 1975 (King Jigme Singye (1972-2006), aluminum, Bombay mint, KM#37)

•10 Chhetrum, 1979 (King Jigme Singye (1972-2006), bronze, Llantrisant mint, KM#46)

•20 Chhetrum, 1974 (King Jigme Singye (1972-2006), copper-aluminum-nickel, Bombay mint, KM#39) Commemorative: FAO

•25 Chhetrum, 1975 (King Jigme Singye (1972-2006), cupronickel, Calcutta mint, KM#40)

•25 Chhetrum, 1979 (King Jigme Singye (1972-2006), cupronickel, Llantrisant mint, KM#47)

•25 Chhetrum, 1979 (King Jigme Singye (1972-2006), aluminum bronze-plated steel, Llantrisant mint, KM#47a)

•1 Ngultrum, 1979 (King Jigme Singye (1972-2006), cupronickel-plated steel, Llantrisant mint, KM#49a)

Banknotes from Bhutan in the collection

Kingdom (1907-present)

•1 Ngultrum, 1990 (King Jigme Singye (1972-2006), P#12)

•1 Ngultrum, 2006 (King Jigme Singye (1972-2006), P#27)

•5 Ngultrum, 2015 (King Jigme Khesar (2006-present), P#28)

•20 Ngultrum, 1981 (King Jigme Singye (1972-2006), P#16)