Item number: A362

Year: AD 1810-1850

Material: Copper

Size: 19.8 x 19.5 x 1.8 mm

Weight: 3.7 g

Provenance: Noonans 2022

This is a hand-crafted Matam copper coin from the Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan, located on the southern slopes of the Himalayas, minted between AD 1810 and AD 1850.

Numismatists categorise Bhutanese coins issued between AD 1785 and AD 1930 into four periods, and this coin represents a typical design of the second period. During this time, Bhutan gradually distanced itself from the influence of Cooch Behar from the south, incorporating more indigenous design elements.

The coin is cast in red copper, with both sides featuring rectangular designs composed of lines and Tibetan script. Due to the coin being manually struck, the decorations on the obverse side are only clear and complete in the centre. The central elements, from right to left, include the Dzongkha word “ndra” written in Tibetan script, and the Tibetan symbol “ས” (Sa) in the lower left corner. The Tibetan “ས” signifies “land,” a motif commonly found on Bhutanese coins.

When comparing this coin with similar types, it is noticeable that it lacks the “two crescents with a dot in between” spell motif on the far right. Additionally, an extra vertical stroke and a circle motif are present below the “ndra” script. These features suggest that this coin might have been minted independently by a local leader, known as a “Penlop.”

The reverse side of the coin is divided into two sections. The upper section features a prominent hook-shaped pattern. The lower section displays a teardrop motif with a central dot, accompanied by a left-aligned rectangular box to its right.

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: A362

年代: 公元 1810-1850 年

材料: 紅銅

尺寸: 19.8 x 19.5 x 1.8 mm

重量: 3.7 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1810至1850年之間以手工打造的馬塔姆銅幣。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，這枚錢幣是第二時期的典型形制，該時期不丹逐漸擺脫南方印度的科奇比哈爾土邦影響，增加更多本土的設計元素。

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。由於錢幣以人工打印而成，錢幣正面僅有中央的紋飾較為完整清晰。正中央的元素由右至左，分別是以藏文拼寫的宗喀語「ndra」跟左下角的藏文「ས」(Sa) 符號。藏文「ས」有「土地」意涵，經常能在不丹的錢幣上發現。

將這枚錢幣和同類型的錢幣作比較，能發現缺少最右側的「夾著一粒圓點的兩個月牙」咒語圖騰，以及「ndra」下方增加一豎筆劃和圓型圖騰。這些特徵反映出這枚錢幣可能是由地方頭人「彭洛普」自行鑄造。

錢幣背面分為上下兩個區塊，上方有一道顯著的鈎紋。下方則是一個中間有一粒圓點的水滴圖騰，其右邊是一個靠左對齊的方框。

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。