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A new offering of Tibet coins is in the works. Hundreds of coins from rarities to common pieces will be offered. If you have not purchased Tibet coins from me in the past, please advise your interest and I will send you notice when the new offer is posted here.
REFERENCES
The only reasonably comprehensive, organized reference on Tibet is YZM = Zhong guo xi zang qian bi tu lu (Illustrated Catalog of the Money of China's Tibet) by Yin Zheng Min. There are no useful works in English, aside from the Tibet sections in the K = Krause-Mishler SCWC catalogs. Also useful: G = Gabrisch Geld aus Tibet, and TNS = (Tibet Num. Soc., Zhu Jinzhong et. al.) Zhong Guo Xi Zang Qian Bi , and DW = Dong Wenchao, Ed., An Overview of China's Gold & Silver Coins of Past Ages. See my books page for more on these and other works. Articles on particular types or series by Bertsch, Rhodes, Gabrisch and others, in Journal / Newsletter of the Oriental Numismatic Society can be obtained from the regional reps., and in NI Bulletin from the editor. Citation of a published illustration may not indicate a die-level match, especially for common types.
Photos and descriptions in the KM SCWC are sometimes out of place, or the variety descriptions useless, and these errors persist from one edition to the next. "KM36Y#28a" refers to the photo of Y#28a in the 36th edition of KM 20th Century volume. I have noted as "unverified" most KM listings which are not pictured, published elsewhere, or known to me.
TYPES AND VARIETIES
The chaotic political situation, the Lamas' reluctance to coin money, multiple mints and branches, and the primitive minting conditions themselves contribute to a wealth of types and varieties in the Tibetan series. The limited skills of the engravers also resulted in subvarieties and discernable die varieties. I have modified the Craig/Yeoman numbers differentrly than Krause (Standard Catalog of World Coins) to separate what I consider intentional or obvious "type" differences from lesser variations which are noted as date varieties, with finer attention to rare types. No doubt there are many more date varieties for common types than I have listed. Yin Zheng Min's work (YZM) discusses and illustrates the finest breakdowns yet published for most types, to the level of die varieties for some rarer pieces. G.R. Richarson's extensive die study remains unpublished. The SCWC lists some overdates, which are more numerous than noted and easily confused with numeral variants, which occur most often with 1, 4, and 9. Overdates are generally worth no great premium.
The side with portrait, Emperor's name, Lion, or the "Government of Tibet" inscription is generally taken as Obverse, while the 12 Buddhist astamangala symbols, often inside petal-like fleurettes, is a common Reverse element, except for the Gaden Tangka (Y13) where this side is treated as the obverse. These symbols are referenced by their compass position, N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW. The Fishes (NE), and Wheel (NW) tend to be sources of variation, and I may refer loosely to head or arms of symbols such as Umbrella (N), Pot (E), Conch (S), or Banner (W). cw = clockwise & ccw = counter-clockwise for swimming fish.
The angle of the lion's head was used to distinguish Dode from Meki products 1913-18 (Y16-21). However, the actual angle of "gaze" can range from 90° (up) to 0° (back) and even downward, making some specimens difficult to attribute by this factor alone. When angles are expressed in degrees, these are approximate only.
Variations within a given mint and date which are 100% consistent between specimens (allowing for striking factors) are die varieties. I have made distinctions at this level only for rare coins (where few dies were used) or where a die study has been published. Consistent variations which are not exact may represent the work of different engravers, or may be intentional control devices. Such varieties or sub-varieties are given here as date varieties, and described by what I consider to be the most visible, significant, or describable element, though often more than one script or design element will vary. Where such variations are highly visible or known to be significant, I have called a type distinction (independently of whether KM does or not), or noted them as errors, as the case appears to be.
To describe the relationship of an outer legend against the elements of the inner circle, I focus on the first word of the standard inscription, 3-character Dga at about 12:00 which I have transliterated as T92, which it vaguely resembles. Its position is noted relative to elements of the lion such as the hair or the sun (open or closed circle surrounded by cloud streamers).
Clock orientations are based on the usual order of astamangala symbols, or the flat of the Lion's back running 3:00 - 9:00, not on "T92".
CLICK ON CATALOG REFERENCE TO SEE SCAN
EARLY ISSUES
SINO-TIBETAN
SZECHUAN RUPEES
INDEPENDENT TIBET
MISCELLANEOUS
TOKENS - MEDALS - MILITARY DECORATIONS
BULK LOTS
BANKNOTES
GALLERY OF FAKES
Wolfgang Bertsch has published a vey useful study, Tibetan Fake Coins and Fantasy Countermarks, with enlarged side-by-side comparisons of known fake coins and their genuine counterparts. However, it is far from complete. Unless noted, the following specimens are from lot 231 (Baldwin-Ma-Gillio-Monetarium sale #40) in the Gabrisch collection. I have made up some B numbers to keep with his sequence.
B4v AR Sho Yr.59 of Ch';ien Lung (C72) Flat, machine-struck planchet. Ver similar to Bertsch's specimen. Obtained from Nepal c. 2004
B18aF 1/4 Sho Yr.1 (Y-B7) Modern die-struck forgeries in copper and silver from the same die. Very similar to B18, but a different die. Obtained from Nepal c. 1995.
B25F 7-½ Skar 15/43 (Y11) Made in Sikkim c. 1970 according to Rhodes
B23aF 7-½ Skar 15/43 (Y11) A very crude cast, but possibly circulated as well. Obtained 2005 from a Nepali collector.
B28F 2-½ Skar 15/55 (Y-A19) A different date than those shown in Bertsch.
B44v Srang 15/43 (Y12) Bertsch var. iv more or less. A well-made struck forgery. Giveaways are the reeded edge and the novel style of astamangala symbols at N, NW, and W rev. 34.3mm, 19.79gm Bertsch's specimen has a plain edge. Obtained 2005 from a Nepali collector.
B76F 1/4 Rupee Rare variety with missing inner leaf 8:00-9:00 reverse (Y1b). Under a glass the surfaces and rim show porosity. This specimen later mounted and repaired. Obtained 2005 from a Nepali collector.
B120aF Sho 15/55 Mekyi Mint type (Y21.1) Contemporary, circulating fake in brass, shown with genuine example.
B121F Sho 15/55 Ser-Khang Mint type (Y21.2) Contemporary, circulating fake in brass, shown with genuine example.
B135F Sho 15/56 Dode Mint type (Y21a) High quality contemporary, circulating fake in copper, shown with genuine example. Published by Rhodes in Num. Chron. 1992 (1986?)
B125F Sho 15/60 Dode Mint type (Y21a) High quality contemporary, circulating fake in copper, shown with genuine example. Published by Rhodes in Num. Chron. 1992 (1986?)
Y3FAKE A rather comical, likely recent forgery. Sold on Ebay, of course. NOT FOR SALE
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BOOKS ON TIBET COINS
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