DOLAKHA, Jan 9: The Numismatics Museum established in the historical city of Dolakha in Bhimeshwor Municipality-2 is yet to come into operation.
Local social worker Harka Bahadur Shrestha said that the Numismatics Museum was constructed after the ancient minting house located on the premises of Rajkuleshwor Taleju Temple was encroached upon.
However, the museum building could not come into operation as the finishing works remain incomplete.
According to him, the construction of the museum building had started as a multi-year project. In the first phase, the compound wall was constructed at a cost of Rs. 500,000. Later, the structure of the building was constructed by the Bagmati Provincial government at a cost of Rs. 37.38 million.
To complete the remaining works, a budget of Rs. 16.2 million has been proposed. As per the Detailed Project Report (DPR), the first phase of work began in December/January 2020 and was completed in May/June 2022.
The remaining works of the building constructed on 1,153 square metres of land have been halted due to a lack of budget.
The encroached mint house, which is now in a dilapidated condition, was used as a storehouse during the Malla and the Rana periods.
Before 1605 BS, the first coin was printed in Dolakha during the reign of King Jayinder Singh Dev of Dolakha. It is said the coin was minted in Dolakha before the Malla kings of the Kathmandu Valley started minting them.
A book titled Coinage of Nepal published in London in 1989 claims the coin of Jayaindra Singh Dev to be the first coin of Nepal. The book, published by three British men with facts, also mentions that the coin brought by King Jayinder Singh was found in Tibet.
