Item number: A355

Year: AD 1850-1875

Material: Copper

Size: 20.9 x 20.5 x 1.1 mm

Weight: 2.3 g

Provenance: Noonans 2022

This is a Chetam copper coin from the Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan, located on the southern slopes of the Himalayas, handcrafted between AD 1850 and AD 1875. The Chetam coin weighs approximately 2.7 grams, making it lighter than the Matam copper coin of a different denomination.

Numismatists categorise Bhutanese coinage from AD 1785 to AD 1930 into four major periods. This coin belongs to the third period, during which Bhutanese coins began to feature more Mahayana Buddhist motifs in their designs.

The coin is made of red copper, with both sides featuring rectangular designs composed of lines and Tibetan script. The front of the coin is divided into three sections, with the bottom part’s design worn away. However, the middle section clearly displays a thunderbolt motif, commonly found on Bhutanese coins, which is written in Tibetan as “ndra.”

To the left of “ndra” is the “endless knot” motif, one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols in Buddhism, symbolising the interconnection of happiness and continuity. Each corner of the outer design is adorned with a single dot.

The reverse side of the coin is divided into a neat chequerboard pattern by lines, with three overlapping crescent marks in the centre. Each side features a hook-shaped decoration. Below the crescent marks is the “conch shell,” one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols in Buddhism, representing good fortune and the spread of Buddhist teachings, though it is worn and not clearly visible.

Flanking the conch shell on both sides are square motifs, which were commonly used as decorations since the first period of Bhutanese coinage.

Prior to the 20th century, Bhutan did not have a significant need for monetary transactions, and coins were often given as gifts by kings or local chieftains known as “Penlop.” Historical records indicate that Bhutan initially commissioned the minting of coins from the southern Cooch Behar kingdom before establishing a domestic minting industry. Due to the scarcity of precious metals like gold and silver within Bhutan, copper, which was abundant locally, became the primary material for coin production. Early coin designs were heavily influenced by Hindu culture, but over time, they gradually incorporated more elements of indigenous Mahayana Buddhism.

物件編號: A355

年代: 公元 1850-1875 年

材料: 紅銅

尺寸: 20.9 x 20.5 x 1.1 mm

重量: 2.3 g

來源: 諾南斯 2022

這是一枚位於喜馬拉雅山南麓的佛教王國不丹，於公元1850至1875年之間以手工打造的切塔姆銅幣，切塔姆的重量大致落在2.7克左右，重量小於另一種面額的馬塔姆銅幣。錢幣學家將公元1785至1930年間，不丹發行的錢幣分為四大時期，這枚錢幣是第三時期的形制，該時期的不丹錢幣出現更多大乘佛教的圖騰設計。

錢幣以紅銅鑄成，正反兩面以線條構成的矩形搭配藏文作為設計。錢幣正面被劃分為三個區塊，最下方的紋飾已經遭到磨平，不過正中間能清楚看到經常出現在不丹錢幣上的閃電圖騰，這是以藏文拼寫的宗喀語「ndra」。而「ndra」左側是佛教徒推崇的「佛門八寶」中，象徵幸福會綿延不斷的「盤長」圖騰，外圍的四個角落各以一粒圓點裝飾。

錢幣背面被線條劃分為整齊的棋盤狀，中間是三個重疊的弦月標記，左右兩側各有一個鉤型裝飾。弦月標記的下方，則是「佛門八寶」中象徵好運和宣揚佛法的「法螺」圖騰，不過卻遭到磨平其外觀不甚清楚。法螺的左右兩側，則是自第一時期經常作為裝飾的方形圖騰。

進入公元20世紀以前，不丹國內沒有興盛的貨幣交易需求，錢幣多半是君王或地方頭人「彭洛普」作為贈與的禮物。根據紀錄不丹最早是委由南方的科奇比哈爾土邦協助鑄幣，後續方才在國內興建本土的鑄幣事業。由於不丹境內缺乏金銀等貴重金屬，故多以本地盛產的銅礦作為原料。早先的錢幣設計深受印度教文化影響，後期則逐漸融入更多本土的大乘佛教元素。