Tibet

Tibetan Empire (618-842), Tibet (1354-1642, 1912-1951), Khoshut Khanate (1642-1717)

Independent State (618-842, 1354-1618, 1642-1717), Unrecognized State (1912-1951)

Location: Tibetan Plateau

Capital City: Lhasa (618-842, 1642-1717, 1912-1951), Nêdong (1354-1618)

Government type: Monarchy (618-842, 1354-1618), Dual System (1642-1717, 1912-1951), Autonomous State within China (1720-1912)

Main languages: Tibetan, Qiang

Main religions: Mahayana Buddhism, Bön

Chronology

618: Tibetan Empire founded by Songtsen Gampo, king of Yarlung

842: Tibetan Empire disintegrates

1354: Independence from Yuan China under the Phagmodrupa dynasty

1435: Rinpungpa breaks off from the Phagmodrupa

1565: Tsangpa supercedes Rinpungpa

1642: Oirat ruler Güshi Khan takes power in Tibet and establishes the dual system with the 5th Dalai Lama

1717: Conquered by Dzungars

1720: Part of Qing China, dual system continues

1856-1904: Tributary to Nepal

1912: Independence from China (unrecognized)

1950: Invaded by newly-established Chinese communist regime

1951: Annexed to China

Currency

Tangka (1640-1959)

Srang (1792-1959)

1 Srang = 10 Sho = 100 Skar

Rupee (1902-1942)

Coins from Tibet in the collection

Within Qing China (1720-1912)

•1 Tangka, 1888 (13th Dalai Lama (1879-1933), silver, Y#13)

Independent State (1912-1951)

•7.5 Skar, 1918 (13th Dalai Lama (1879-1933), copper, Dodé mint, Y#20)

•1 Sho, 1920 (13th Dalai Lama (1879-1933), copper, Y#21.2)

•1 Sho, 1935 (copper, Tapchi Electric Machine Factory (Lhasa), Y#23)

•5 Sho, 1949 (14th Dalai Lama (1940-1959), copper, Y#28.1)

•1 Rupee, 1911-1933 (13th Dalai Lama (1879-1933), silver, Chengdu and Kangding mints, Y#3)