Tibetan srang

The srang (pronounced "sang"; in Tibetan often referred to as "dngul srang" i.e. "silver srang") was a currency of Tibet between 1909 and 1959. It circulated alongside the "tangka" until the 1950s. It was divided into 10 "sho", each of 10 "skar", with the tangka equal to 15 skar.

Originally the srang was a weight unit, particularly to weigh silver and gold. It was equivalent to the Chinese liang (tael), i.e. to about 37.5 grams.

The srang first appeared as a silver coin in 1909 when Tibet began issuing a variety of denominations rather than only issuing the tangka. These silver coins of 18.5 g were minted at Dode. The srang were struck till 1919. Silver 1½ srang coins of 5 g were struck in Tapchi mint between 1936 and 1938 and again in 1946. Silver 3 srang coins of 11.3 g were struck in Tapchi mint between 1933 and 1938 and again in 1946. Billon coins of 10 srang were issued from Dogu mint between 1948 and 1952. Gold coins of 20 srang were struck in Ser-Khang mint between 1918 and 1921Krause, Chester L. and Clifford Mishler (2001). "Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1901-2000", Iola: Krause Publications, 28th ed., ISBN 0-87341-884-0, p.1798] . In 1939 the first Tibetan banknotes appeared denominated in srang (notes of 100 "tam srang").

In 1954 a silver coin was struck for distribution to monks. Although this coin was the last tangka issue, it was valued at 5 srang and was the last silver coin to be struck in Tibet.

The last Tibetan copper coins (5 sho) were issued in 1953, with 100 srang notes issued until 1959.

Notes

References

*numis cite SCWC|date=1991
*numis cite SCWPM|date=1994