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Bhutan probably first became a distinct political entity in the 1600s, when a Tibetan Buddhist priest named Sheptoon La-Pha became king. In 1865 the British invaded Bhutan from neighboring India and incorporated Bhutan into their sphere of influence. The kingdom of Bhutan was established on December 17, 1907 when the kingship became hereditary.

The first coins were issued in Bhutan around 1790 and were crude imitations of coins issued by the Cooch Bihar kingdom. The Indian Rupee (INR) has circulated in Bhutan beginning in 1907, and it is still legal tender. Bhutan issued Rupee coins (BTR) beginning in 1928, including the Tickchung equal to a half rupee. It introduced the Bhutan Ngultrum (BTN) at par with the Indian Rupee on April 6, 1974. The India Rupee was divisible into 16 Annas and 64 Paise until 1957, divisible into 100 Naye Paise from 1957 until 1964, and divisible into 100 Paise from 1964 on. The Ngultrum is divisible into 100 Chetrums. Banknotes were issued by the Royal Government of Bhutan until October 31, 1983 and by the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan beginning on November 1, 1983 as a result of the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan Act, 4 August 1982.

Here is single year of issue coin dated 1966 and valued at 50 Naya Paisa. The theme of the coin is the 40th Aniversary of the accession of Jigme Wangchuk. The obverse features the crowned bust of Jigme with the dates of his rule. Born in 1905, he was the second king of Bhutan from August 21st, 1926 until his death on March 30th, 1952. Under his reign, Bhutan continued to maintain almost complete isolation from the outside world, maintaining only limited relations with the British Raj in India. The reverse depicts the Eblem of Bhutan. The Emblem of Bhutan maintains several elements of the flag of Bhutan, with slightly different artistry, and contains much Buddhist symbolism.

The official description is as follows:

"The national emblem, contained in a circle, is composed of a double diamond-thunderbolt (dorje) placed above a lotus, surmounted by a jewel and framed by two dragons. The thunderbolt represents the harmony between secular and religious power. The lotus symbolizes purity; the jewel expresses sovereign power; and the two dragons, male and female, stand for the name of the country which they proclaim with their great voice, the thunder." It is also known for its symbolic colors of the emblem with the gold, teal and red.

• Weight: NA
• Diameter: NA
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge:
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: 10,000
• Krause # KM-30

Here is a coin valued at 5 Chetrums and dated 1975. The obverse of the coin features the crowned bust facing left of Jigme Singye Wangchuck. Jigme Singye was born November 11th, 1955. He was King of Bhutan from July 21st, 1972 until he abdicated on December 14th, 2006. The reverse depicts an ornate emblem design in the center with the value below.

• Weight: 1.480g
• Diameter: 22mm
• Material: Aluminum
• Edge: Plain
• Mint: NA
• Mintage: Not Listed
• Krause # KM-37

• Weight: g
• Diameter: mm
• Material:
• Edge:
• Mint:
• Mintage:
• Krause # KM-

Reverse