With one of the largest religious fest days in the Christian calendar just past, I've been drifting to another part of the word which has been in the news - Tibet.

Prior to the Chinese occupation, this independent country had a great heritage of banknote and coin production. Here is an example of a 100 Sarang note from the 1942-1959 period, and is listed at #11 in the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, General Issues volume.

It is beautiful in its complexity, yet simple in production - Wood Block printing on hand made paper. No portraits of the Dali Lama.

The colors are quite traditional too.

Beautiful stuff from beautiful people.

George