File:Kong-Par Tangkas of Tibet - C60e 13-46 - Scott Semans 05.jpg

PHOTO Y# DESCRIPTION PRICE KONG PAR, EARLY :     13/45-47 (1791-93)    Arch over date, 3 symbols above s. square s. 8 scrolls; R: Lotus s. circle(s) s. SYMBOLS in fleur., ±27.8mm, avg. ±5gm (60a), ±5.2gm (60b), ±66% fine; Mints: Jomo Dzong in Kong-bo Prov. (hence "Kong-par) for 13/45, and Shol (Lhasa) for later dates. Basic TYPES are 1) Double circle around Lotus (1791-92), 2) Single (1792-93), 3) Pointed arch (1840s), 4) New style Lotus (c. 1850), and 5) Newer style Lotus & revised symbols E & SW (1890-91). VARIETIES within these types are numerous, mainly in the form and angle of date numerals, "scrolls" around square, lotus style, and NE, SW, E & N SYMBOLS. BK = Betsch, W., "The Kong-Par Tangkas of Tibet," J. ONS. #195, 2008, pp. 35-46, presenting many varieties, and noting that even more are in an unpublished paper. Bertsch notes finding 15 varieties among 18 specimens of the scarce pointed-arch type, and I find 3 more, suggesting that Kong Par varieties are largely engraver whim.    Informational Photos: C60a 13/45 VARIETIES    C60a 13/46 VARIETIES    C60b 13/46 VARIETIES    C60b 13/47 VARIETIES    C60c 13/46 VARIETIES    C60e 13/46 VARIETIES    MORE C60e 13/46 VARIETIES     KONG PAR, LATER :     15/24-25 (1890-91+)     Design as erly type with stylistic differences. Avg. 4.5gm; Giamda Mint. BK = Betsch, W., "The Kong-Par Tangkas of Tibet," J. ONS. #195, 2008, pp. 35-46. "Stem" refers to the central Lotus. These are Y-A13 in Yeoman and A13.1 in some editions of KM; for stock-listing purposes I have called these "C100" and reassigned the Y-number "A13" to a variety of Type-A Gaden tangka.     INFORMATIONAL PHOTOS: VARIETIES C100   Kong Par Tangka, "15/24" (1890-91+), Variety: (d): single circle lotus, fish clockwise, E: 9 dots, Stem: 2.5-3mm. (commonest variety)     (KMY#A13.1), G63, BK44-46, LY0369, K1435?, LM627 VF+-EF    $25.00 D C100   Kong Par Tangka, "15/24" (1890-91+), Variety: (j): single circle lotus, fish counter-clockwise, E: 9 dots, Stem: 2mm. (2nd commonest variety)     (KMY#A13.1), YZM375, BK47, 49 EF, dark    $27.50 P GADEN TANGKA :         Arguably Tibet's most significant coin, the "Y13" Ga-den Tankgka was produced from c. 1840 to c. 1930 at five mints / submints. There are, conservatively, 38 types, nearly all assignable by mint and date, divided amongst 8 discreet classes (A-H). Likely unintended sub-varieties occur from unskilled die repair, while gross errors such as repeated or off-rotation symbols, and experimental machine strikes account for additional types. Rarity of classes descends from H and A, to G, C, D, E, B, and F. Also called White Tangka for its relative purity, fineness is roughly 75% across classes. Oddly, cut (fractional) pieces are rare, and contemporary counterfeits are scarce.     The most important sources of variation are on the obverse: the design of the central Flower, the location and forms of the 8 Buddhist astamangala Symbols in Fleurettes - designated by their compass locations (N,NE,E,SE,S, etc.) - and the Dots or Waves between them. The order of the Symbols varies between classes A-B, and C-H. On reverse the N Fleurette is Ga, 3 characters vaguely resembling t92. Reverse variations occur in the form of the central Gem, the Spokes surrounding it, and the Dots and Waves between Fleurettes. Class A has a unique style and design, particularly in the central elements. Variations in the reverse Waves at N-NW, NE-E, and W-SW are significant in class B. Class H, and five scarce experimental issues in classes D - F are machine struck, while A-G are hand struck. In class F, presence or absence of dots beside the Flower respectively best distinguish Upper from Lower Dode mint products. The size / number of dots in the outer rings of both sides are useful in die studies, but too random to demarcate varieties.     References: R = Rhodes, N., ONS Information Sheet #17, 1/83 (Gaden Tangka), and #19, 8/78 (Tibetan Mints): the seminal work; YZM = Yin Zheng-min (Weng cheng-min), Zhong guo xi zang qian bi tu lu (Illustrated Catalog of the Money of China's Tibet), Lhasa, 2004, ISBN 7-223-01686-8: the most comprehensive work on Tibetan coins; VdH = Van den Hooff, René, The Tibetan Gaden tangka: a die study, 2015, ISBN 978-1-312-96402-0: expands upon Rhodes and presents a die study of Class F; SS = My old Info Sheet #11, still useful, but prices & some information out of date; KM = Standard Catalog of World Coins, where Y13 entries were created by Brian Hannon. GADEN CLASS B :     Dodpal Mint, c. 1880-94. Class: (vs. A): O: Water lines below Flower; R: 3-crescent Gem center; (vs. C-F): O: Order of Symbols (example: Lotus E). Rarity: ±23% of Gaden Tangkas are Class B. 13B2   Dodpal Mint, c. 1880s-94. Class B, Type: O: Dot to L of Central Flower; (Fish swim c/cw; SW made of lines & dots). R: Smooth Crescent links W & NW Fleurettes. Subvarieties mainly in Flower, NW, S, & SW & SE Symbols.   Y13B2 My choice subvariety (best grade); Y13.B2a NW: Base triangle;    Y13.B2b NW: Base square.     KM-Y#B13.2?, R-Bii, YZM277, SS-Y13B.2-.3 Each: VF-EF, or VF-EF/White    $12.00 13B3f   Dodpal Mint, c. mid-1890s. Class B, Type: R: Hooked Wave lines W & SW Fleurettes & Dot below Wave linking E & NE Fleurettes; O: (No dot to L of central Flower.) Subvarieties are distinctive and numerous but likely unintentional, arising from Wave hooks R or L; Fish swim cw or c/cw & variable W & S symbols, all in various combinations.   Type: NE: Fish c/w; R: Hook L     KM-Y#B13.3, R-Biii, YZM279-283, SSY13B.4 VF-EF white    $27.50 13B4a   Dodpal Mint, c. mid-1890s-96. Class B, Type: O: S has 2 "legs" to central Circle (vs. Dot); (Fish swims c/w); (No Dot to L of central Flower) plus R: (No hooked or dotted Waves link Fleurettes). Varieties mainly in S, SW, NW and especially W Symbols.   Variety: W has hooked head (commonest B variety)     KM-Y#B13.5, R-Biv, YZM286-88, SS-Y13B.5-.15 Each: VF-EF, or VF-EF/White    $12.00 13B4d   Dodpal Mint, c. mid-1890s-96. Class B, Type: O: S has 2 "legs" to central Circle (vs. Dot); (Fish swims c/w); (No Dot to L of central Flower) plus R: (No hooked or dotted Waves link Fleurettes). Subvarieties mainly in S, SW, NW and especially W Symbols.   Type: W has round head     KM-Y#B13.5, R-Biv, YZM278, 284-91, SS-Y13B.5-.15 VF    $20.00 GADEN CLASS C :     Tip Arsenal Mint, 1896. Class: (vs. B): O: Flower redesigned; Some Symbols redesigned & in new order; Outer ring added; R: No Hooks or Dots below Waves; 2-crescent Gem center; (vs. D-H): R: Waves link Fleurettes. Rarity: ±4% of Gaden Tangkas are Class C. GADEN CLASS D :     Tip Arsenal Mint, 1897-1900. Class: (vs. C): R: 3 Dots between Fleurettes; (vs. E-H): O: 3 Dots between Fleurettes. Rarity: ±8% of Gaden Tangkas are Class D. 13D2   Tip Arsenal Mint, 1898. Class D, Type: O: Flower: Pellet leaves (as Class C); W has "curved keyboard" body; NW has 5 dots. Subvarieties: Size of N.     KM-Y#D13.2, R-Dii, YZM303-304, SS-Y13D.1 VF-EF    $15.00 13D3   Tip Arsenal Mint, 1899. Class D, Type: O: Flower: Pellet leaves (as Class C); W has "curved keyboard" body; NW has 9 dots.     KM-Y#D13.2, R-Diii, YZM300-301, SS-Y13D.2 F+-VF+    $16.50 13D4   Tip Arsenal Mint, 1900. Class D, Type: O: Flower: Long leaves (as Class E); W has open body; NW has 9 dots.     KM-Y#D13.4, R-Div, YZM298-299, SS-Y13D.4 UC, dark    $40.00 GADEN CLASS E :     Tip Arsenal Mint, 1901-06. Class: O: Wave between Fleurettes. (R: 3 Dots between Fleurettes): Rarity: ±15% of Gaden Tangkas are Class E. 13E1   Tip Arsenal Mint, 1901. Class E, Type: O: NE: Line between fishes; (E: No dots at sides)     (KM-Y#E13.1?), R-Ei, YZM307, SS-Y13E.5 VF-EF, or VF-EF/White    $15.00 13E3   Tip Arsenal Mint, 1903. Class E, Type: O: (NE: Dots between fishes), (E: Dots at sides): (W: Arms at angle, no dots at ends.)     (KM-Y#E13.1?), R-Eiii, YZM310, SS-Y13E.3a VF-EF    $13.50 13E4   Tip Arsenal Mint, 1904. Class E, Type: O: (NE: Dots between fishes), (E: Dots at sides): (W: Arms vertical, two with dots at ends.)     (KM-Y#E13.1?), R-Eiv, YZM315, SS-Y13E.3 VF    $16.50 13E6   Tip Arsenal Mint, 1905. Class E, Type: O: (NE: Dots between fishes); (E: Dots at sides); (W: Arms vertical, two with dots at ends.); S: 3 dots (not 1) below.     (KM-Y#E13.1?), R-Eiv, YZM-nl, SS-Y13E.1 VF-EF    $15.00 GADEN CLASS F :     Dode Mint, Upper & Lower Branches, 1907-22. Class: (O: Dot between Fleurettes). (R: 3 Dots between Fleurettes): Rhodes' and van den Hoof's research suggests that Dots by the Central Flower and dots between Fish (NW) (Types 8, 10) designate Upper Dokde, while no Dots, and a hooked line between Fish (Types 7, 9, 11) are Lower Dokde. Rarity: Commonest class; ±45% of Gaden Tangkas are Class F. 13F7   Lower Dode Mint, 1914-18. Class F, Type: O: (No dots by Central Flower); (NE: 3 dots between fishes); (NW: 5 dots & no petals).     KM-Y#F13.1v, R-Fvii, YZM327-28, SS-Y13F.1 Fine 10.00; VF-EF    $13.50 13F8a   Upper Dode Mint, 1914-18. Class F, Type: O: (Dots by Central Flower); (NE: 1+3+1 dots between fishes); (NW: 5 dots & no petals). Varieties occur in the NW symbol. Commonest single Type of Gaden Tangka, 16%.     KM-Y#F13.1v, R-Fviii, YZM332-33, SS-Y13F.11 Each: VF-EF, or VF-EF/White    $12.00 13F8d   Upper Dode Mint, 1914-18. Class F, Type: O: (Dots by Central Flower); (NE: 1+3+1 dots between fishes); (NW: 5 dots & no petals); Variety: Cruder engraving (Central Flower long, thin leaves; E: straight arms) Late-period after their best engraver had left for SerKhang Mint.     KM-Y#F13.1v, R-Fviii, YZM332-33, SS-Y13F.11 Each: VF-EF, or VF-EF/White    $13.00 13F9   Lower Dode Mint, 1914-18. Class F, Type: O: (No dots by Central Flower); (NE: 2-tailed line between fishes); (NW: dots, petals & banners around circle); (SW: Banner has squared elements).     KM-Y#F13.5, R-Fix, YZM3398, SS-Y13F.7