Bhutanese currency 25 Chhertum was introduced during the reign of Druk Gyalpo (King) Jigme Singye Wangchuck (1955–; r. 1972–2006), the 1st and 2nd version of the coin was issued between 1974 to 1979 by the Royal Government of Bhutan. The 3rd version in 2003 by the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan.
The 1st version was produced at the facilities of the India Government Mint; circulated in Bhutan around 1974 to coincide with Jigme Singye's coronation as Druk Gyalpo.
The 2nd version of the 25 chhertum coin was minted in 1979 and the 3rd version was minted around 1998 to 2003; manufactured at the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, Wales, United Kingdom.
All three types are no longer circulate frequently due to their low purchasing power and the Bhutanese public's disinterest in using coins.
A vishvavajra, a symbol of Vajrayana Buddhism, appears in the middle of both coins' reverses inside a solid circular border. Consisting of two crossing vajras (dorjes), the vishvavajra also appears in the state emblem of Bhutan, and in context represents harmony between secular and religious power.
The Dzongkha rendering of the coin's face value, "ཕྱེད་ཀྲམ་ཉརེ་ལྔ།" is written outside the boundary, arched in a clockwise direction along the upper rim. Its English equivalent, "TWENTY FIVE CHHERTUM", is printed below the vishvavajra, extending counterclockwise from the reverse's left to right peripheries. The two writings are separated from one another by two circular points, one at each side of the coin.
FEATURES
- Obverse - Golden fishes of good fortune (One of the 8 Revered Buddhist Symbols).
- Lettering - Royal Government of Bhutan
- Reverse - Dorje (a double diamond-thunderbolt) is a part of Coat of Arms and represents the harmony between secular and religious power.
- Lettering - TWENTY FIVE CHHERTUM
- Edge - Milled
- Mint - Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom (1966-date), issued in 2000.
- Type - Standard circulation coin
- Year - 1979
- Value - 25 Chetrums
- Currency Exchange - 0.25 BTN = SGD 0.0045
- Composition - Aluminium-bronze plated steel
- Weight - 4.4500 g
- Diameter - 22.2 mm
- Thickness - 1.8 mm
- Shape - Round
- Technique - Milled
