The next year of Bhutan’s coinage was 1951, followed by 1954. In those two years, a confusingly vague kind of bronze coin came into being - it was not denominated, and it was not dated. I have no idea what the coin was called. These coins can still be found and look like the following:
1954 coin that was named 1 Pice in the numismatic circles
The following comparison of the two coins will reveal certain subtle differences in the two. The one on the left is 1951 issue and the one on the right is the 1954 issue. At first glance both of them look alike but the one on the right is lot more sharper in detailing.
Two different faces of the same coin
With the emergence of these 1951 and 1954 coins I felt that three repeated errors in the coinages had dealt a deathblow to the ill-fated Thala and thus was put to pasture. No such luck - it remerged in 1966. And this time the inaccuracy was even more disastrous - it was denominated 50 N.P. - meaning Naya Paisa - Indian unit of currency. Perhaps the Calcutta Mint people took upon themselves to name the 1966 Thala as 50 N.P. since the Bhutanese currency unit Ngultrum/Chettrum came into being only in 1974 when our paper currency was first released. The 50 N.P. Thala looked like this:
The 1966 Thala was no longer called Jatum Ched but 50 N.P. As of this mintage, the years of coinage ceased to be indicated in the lunar year
In addition to the 50 N.P. coin, the year 1966 also saw the release of 5 other none-circulating coins. The copper-nickel coin denominated 3 Rupees looked like thus:
Three gold coins, including a platinum one were issued as follows, to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of His Majesty King Jigme Wangchuck:
1 Sertum Gold
2 Sertum Gold
5 Sertum Gold
5 Sertum Platinum Proof Set
Between 1928 to 1954, there were a total of 6 milled coinages - but for the record we have only two years of coinages - the Tsa Druk (1928) and the Chaag Taag (1950) years:
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Over the years we have named our currency units as follows:
Matum
Betum
Zangtum
Sertum
Ngultrum
Chettrum
The Thala was denominated “Jatum Ched”. I believe that “Ched” means half - what does “Jatum” mean? I am still trying to find out.