5 Ngultrum 1974, Bhutan
| in Krause book | Number: 2a |
| Years of issue: | 1974 |
| Edition: | -- |
| Signatures: | King: Jigme Singye Wangchuck |
| Serie: | 1974 Issue |
| Specimen of: | 1974 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 115 x 62 |
| Printer: | TDLR (Thomas de la Rue & Company), London |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
Description
Watermark:
A double diamond-thunderbolt (dorje or vajra), surmounted by a jewel.
Double Vajra (diamond strike of lightning), framed by a precious stone.
The double vajra is approaching in its symbolism to the wheel.
Basic values:
the divine power of teaching, transcendental truth and enlightenment;
male active force in connection with the female passive principle - the bell;
double (cross) - balance, harmony and power.
Avers:
In the center of the upper part is the inscription in Dzongkha: Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan.
Centered is vignette of Jigme Singye Wangchuck.
Jigme Singye Wangchuck (born 11 November 1955) is the former absolute monarch of Bhutan (Druk Gyalpo) from 1972 until his abdication in favor of his eldest son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, in 2006. An absolute monarch, during his rein of a secretive kingdom, Wangchuk is credited with the title of "creator of the world’s biggest refugee crisis" per capita when he banished 1/6th of Bhutan's Nepali speaking citizens in the name of preserving Bhutan's national identity in the 1990s.
The expulsion was done to preserve Bhutan's unique national identity (One Nation, One People” policy) which the country boasts today. Wangchuk's government carried out this ethnic cleansing as it regarded the Nepali speaking population a cultural and political threat to Bhutan's minority ruling class the Druk's (Drukpa). About 108,000 of these stateless Bhutanese are still living in seven pitiable refugee camps in Nepal although many have been resettled in Western nations. 
On right side is the Emblem of Bhutan.
The emblem of Bhutan (Dzongkha: རྒྱལ་ཡོངས་ལས་རྟགས་;Wylie: rgyal-yongs las-rtags) maintains several elements of the flag of Bhutan, with slightly different artistry, and contains much Buddhist symbolism.
The official description is as follows:
"The national emblem, contained in a circle, is composed of a double diamond-thunderbolt (dorje) placed above a lotus, surmounted by a jewel and framed by two dragons. The thunderbolt represents the harmony between secular and religious power. The lotus symbolizes purity; the jewel expresses sovereign power; and the two dragons, male and female, stand for the name of the country which they proclaim with their great voice, the thunder." It is also known for its symbolic colors of the emblem with the gold, teal, red etc...
Revers:
In the center of the upper part of the banknote inscription in English: "ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN".
In the center of the banknote is the image of the fortress (Dzong) Simtokha, erected in 1629.
The present location where the dzong stands is at the boundary common to three prominent western regions: Sha (Wangduephodrang), Wang (Thimphu) and Pa (Paro).
Legend has it that the site was inhabited by demons therefore Zhabdrung subdued one particular demon and enclosed it in a rock. The dzong was built over this stone thus deriving the name sinmo (demon), do (stomach), and kha (on) – the dzong on top of the demon’s stomach.
Since a long time it was a monastery fortress and now converted into a university.
Left, under the image is an explanatory inscription: "SIMTOKHA DZONG".
On the right and left are acanthus leaves. In the lower corners are lotuses.
On the right side is the one of the eight auspicious symbols of Bhutan - an umbrella.
The eight favorable symbols of the Dharma:
Trashi Taghe (Tib.)
According to the legend, when the Buddha of Sakyamuni reached enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, the deities presented him with 8 auspicious symbols: Brahma was the first of the deities to appear before the Buddha with the golden Dharmachakra - the Wheel of Teachings; the heavenly deity Indra brought a white shell to proclaim the true doctrine; the earthly deity Stavar is a precious vessel full of the nectar of immortality; other deities brought the Buddha two goldfish, a lotus flower, a banner of victory and a precious umbrella [Chemitdorzhiev 2010: 48-49].
All these eight symbols became symbols of the Dharma (Sansk, the Teaching of the Buddha), indicating its direct connection with the life of people. Since the wisdom of the Teaching of the Buddha allows us to achieve prosperity and happiness, these symbols are also called the Eight Symbols of Fortune.
The precious umbrella is a symbol of regal grandeur and protection, wealth, power and social status. The coolness given by the precious umbrella protects from the scorching rays of suffering, insuperable unrealizable desires, neuroses and harmful forces. (vbuddisme.ru .rus)
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