The Coinage of Tibet. 

 By E. H. C. Walsh. 



(Read on 2nd May, 1906.) 



The Tibetan system of coinage is very simple, as it consists of a single coin, the 

 tang-ka ff'T]' and ^C'Tj" or J^'T)' wmc ^ i s cut U P i nto pieces of different size for 

 its fractional values. 



In ancient times, according to the Chinese author Wei Yuan, referred to by Mr. 

 W. W. Rockhill in his " Notes on the Ethnology of Tibet," 1 the Tibetans used cowrie 

 shells and knife-shaped coins, but since the Sung, Chin and Ming periods (i.e., since 

 the twelfth century) they have used silver, and since the Cheng-tung period of the 

 Ming (A.D. 1436) Wei Yuan states that they have paid their tribute to China in silver 

 coins. 



The oldest coin, however, that I have come across or heard of in Tibet, is one 

 coined in Nepal for currency in Tibet, by the Newar King J ay a Bhupatindra Malla 

 Deva in the year 816 of the Newar Era corresponding to A.D. 1696, though silver 

 coins were minted in Nepal for currency in Tibet from the reign of Mahendra Malla 

 1551 A.D. 



It is difficult to say what has become of the previous coins of Nepal mintage but 

 I made very careful enquiries for them when in Tibet, and was unable to hear of any. 

 I had, however, heard from Tibetans of the coin I have mentioned above which 

 is known as ang-tuk (l^C'^Tj) or "number six" from the last figure of its date, two 



years before I actually obtained one in Tibet. The previous coins of Nepal mintage 

 would seem to have disappeared. I have, however, obtained, in Nepal, coins, which, 

 for the reasons I give below, I have no doubt were of these previous Tibetan 

 currencies. 



Possibly the still earlier silver coins referred to by the Chinese author were merely 

 struck for the purpose of paying the Tribute, and were not in general circulation, 

 and silver coins did not come into general circulation until the coins that were minted 

 for Tibet by the Newar Dynasty of Nepal. 



As already noted the coinage of Tibet is very simple, consisting of a single coin, 

 the tang-ka, the value of which is nominally six annas, though three of them exchange 

 for an Indian rupee. The weight of the tang-ka is supposed to be 15 karmas ( S^'SI 



or ^"^), the karma being one-hundredth of the srang (5JC") or silver ounce. Its weight, 

 however, varies ; as no care is taken in minting to see that it is exact. 



The sub-divisions of the coin, like those of the Old English silver penny, are made 

 by cutting up the coin itself. These sub-divisions are : — 



i "Notes on the Ethnology of Tibet." Based on the collections in the U.S. National Museum, by W. W. Rockhill, Wash- 

 ington, Government Printing Office, 1895. 



Mem. A.S.B. 5-6-07. 



