Dear …………,
The image you sent me is the Reverse of Bhutan’s earliest milled silver coins. As you know, Bhutan’s first two silver coins were both issued marked with the date – “Sa Druk Lo” (Year of the Earth Dragon), with the denomination “Ja Trum Chet” – meaning “Half Indian Trum” or “Half Indian Rupee”.
Both of Bhutan's earliest silver Thalas struck in 1929 and 1930 carried exactly the same markings on the Reverse, as above.
Thus, since both the coins were issued with identical markings on the Reverse, it is not possible for me to determine if the coin is one of 1929 or 1930. You need to send me the image of the Obverse of the coin - to enable me to tell you which year the coin was struck.
Further, as mentioned in my earlier mail of 2022, while the coinage year/year of release was marked as “Sa Druk Lo” corresponding to 1928 in the Gregorian calendar, the Annual Reports of the Director of the Mint, USA records that the silver coins were actually struck in 1929 and 1930 – NOT IN 1928 and 1929 as is popularly believed.
It is my belief that the year 1928 is featured on the coins – because, possibly, the Bhutanese artist who prepared the designs of the coins had actually prepared the designs in 1928 and released them to the English Master Engraver - Mr. A P Spencer - for preparing the coins' dies. But it is clear beyond doubt that the coins were definitely struck in 1929 and 1930, as evidenced by the American Mint’s Annual Reports of 1929 and 1930. The Reports under reference is so exacting that it even gives the total monetary value of the total mintage - in US$ terms?!!
Please also remember that the first 20,000 pcs. of silver coins of 1929 had a design flaw on its Obverse … so another 30,000 pcs. were ordered to be struck in 1930 - in an effort to correct the flaw. Sadly, while the design flaw of the coin’s Obverse was corrected, the Mint Master at British India Government’s Calcutta Mint forgot to change the Reverse die … so even the 1930 silver coins were struck with the same year “Sa Druk Lo” although it should have been marked “Sa Drue Lo” (Year of the Earth Rabbit).
By the way, as I wrote to you in my above referred mail of 2022, few hundred of Bhutan's 1950 nickel Thala were, by mistake, struck using the "Sa Druk Lo" Reverse die .... but the Government of India Mint Master in Calcutta realized the mistake in time, and quickly halted further striking of the coins, and switched the die with the correct one that read: "Chaag Taag Lo". That is why one of Bhutan's rarest milled coins is the 1950 nickel Thala with the year "Sa Druk Lo".
Talking of which, did you know that the engraving of the Silver Thala's die is considered Mr. A P Spencer's life's finest work? Imagine!
I hope this helps.
Bye and take care
Yeshey
