Coins from the collection of Carlo Valdettaro, minted in Lhasa (Tibet)

Carlo Valdettaro - Italian collector, numismatist, was the managing Director of an Italian company in India, which was first located in Calcutta, and then in Kathmandu. In the 1960s, he often traveled to Nepal, where he purchased coins. In collaboration with other numismatists, he published a work entitled "Coinage of Nepal from ancient times to 1911", published by the Royal numismatic society.

A special place in the collection, transferred to the British Museum, is occupied by coins of Tibet, minted in the city of Lhasa. Here is the residence of the Dalai Lama, the word "Lhasa" can be translated as "place of the gods". Europeans rarely came here. In 1951, it was inhabited mainly by monks, the total number of inhabitants was 25 thousand people. There are many historical monuments, including the Potala Palace, jokang temple, and many ancient monasteries. This collection includes coins minted in Lhasa.