Dear Mr. Bose,
Greetings from Bhutan …. It is my hope that you are keeping good health. I am well.
I write to let you know that, on page 30 of your book “Coinage of Bhutan 2025” of which you kindly sent me a copy, I notice a misquote by Mr. Nicholas G Rhodes which you reproduced in your book. This is concerning the matter relating to a pencil rubbing of the obverse of a coin die erroneously credited to Thimzop Alu Dorji. While it is correct that the die is currently in possession of Mr. Kuenga Tshering, it is not true that the die belonged to Thimzop Alu Dorji. It belonged to the 54th Druk Desi Kitshelpa Dorji Namgyel. Why I can say this with certainty is that Mr. Kuenga Tshering is the husband of the great, great, great grand-daughter of Druk Desi Kitshelpa Dorji Namgyel. And, as you rightly point out, the coin die is currently in his/his wife's possession.
The Centre for Bhutan Studies (CBS) was in error when they informed Mr. Rhodes that the die had belonged to Thimzop Alu Dorji. When I met Mr. Kuenga Tshering and took the following photograph of the die under reference, he told me that he had actually gone over to the CBS to let them know that they had misinformed Mr. Rhodes. Unfortunately, by then it was too late - the CBS had already released their bi-annual Journal of Bhutan Studies containing Rhode's article with the flawed account of the coin die. Thus, you may wish to make the corrections in your subsequent issues of the book, if you happen to plan one.
Hammer die of 54th Druk Desi Kitshelpa Dorji Namgyel
In closing, Thank You for acknowledging me a number of times in your book. Coming from a person of your standing and knowledge – it is a great honor for me.
Bye and take care
Yeshey
cc: 1. Wolfgang Bertsch
2. Kris Van den Cruyce
NOTE: To the British, our Druk Desi was know as Deb Raja.
