1 NPR #370

Front

Two Himalayan musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster) in their natural mountain habitat with Mount Everest in the background. The musk deer is native to the Himalayan region and has been historically hunted for musk pods used in traditional medicine and perfume; this note celebrates Nepal's wildlife heritage. The royal coat of arms of Nepal appears at upper right, featuring the traditional crossed kukri knives and the royal crown.

Back

King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (1945–2001), who reigned as King of Nepal from 1972 until his assassination in 2001. He wore the traditional Nepali cap and military uniform, and presided over Nepal's transition from absolute to constitutional monarchy in 1990. The note features traditional Nepalese temple architecture in pagoda style at center, representing the Hindu and Buddhist religious heritage of Nepal. The text 'श्री नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंक' (Shri Nepal Rastra Bank) and 'रुपैयाँ एक' (Rupaiya Ek, meaning One Rupee) are prominently displayed.

History

This 1 Rupee note was issued by Nepal Rastra Bank during the reign of King Birendra. The note belongs to a series that circulated after Nepal's democratic reforms in 1990. King Birendra's portrait appears on multiple denominations of Nepalese currency from this era. The front features wildlife imagery highlighting Nepal's biodiversity and Himalayan ecology, while the reverse honors both the monarchy and Nepal's distinctive architectural traditions. The currency was eventually replaced with coins for small denominations and demonetized. Pick catalog reference P-22 is assigned to this design type, though multiple signature and date variants exist within this designation.