King Birendra ascended the throne in Nepal in 1972 and ruled for 30 years. During this time, there were many changes in the Nepali coinage. In the early years, the coins were still made in the traditional Nepalese style, made of gold, silver and copper. The coins featured the king's portrait as well as Nepali religious and cultural symbols. In the 1980s, more modern elements began to appear in the coinage. The size and weight of the coins became smaller, and in addition to the portrait of the king, other motifs appeared, such as Nepalese landscapes, plants and animals. In the 1990s, with the development of Nepal's democracy, changes were also made in the coinage. Instead of the king's portrait, the Nepali coat of arms was placed on the coins, and the national symbols of Nepal also appeared on the back of the coins. During the reign of King Birendra, many new types of coins appeared in the Nepali mint. These included, for example, tourist coins depicting popular tourist destinations in Nepal. King Birendra died in tragic circumstances in 2001, and Nepalese coinage changed again. After the king's death, the national flag of Nepal and the portrait of the royal heir appeared on the back of the coins.