Tibetan srang

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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. Silver coins of 3 Srang were struck between 1934 and 1939 and again in 1946. Billon coins of 10 srang were issued between 1950 and 1952. 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.

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