Tibetan skar

The Tibetan Skar is a unit of weight, the one hundredth of a Srang or the tenth part of a sho corresponds ( approximately 0.37 g).

Skar as coin denomination

In the 20th century the name was also used as a nominal value for skar embossed in Tibet copper coins. There were two Sino- Tibetan skar imprints on one half and one skar the Xuantong era and of the Tibetan government issued copper coins to 2 ½, 5 and 7 ½. One unit is referred to as " skargang " in Tibetan. In the German numismatic literature one finds this occasion the term " skarung " for which there is no evidence in Tibetan sources.

Importance

The word skar has the original meaning " star". This meaning is derived from the forth star, who served on the balance beam of Tibetan and Chinese hand scales as a marker. When speaking of a star moving the sliding weight to the next, this corresponded to the weight of a skar.