Thailand: 100th Anniversary Fine Arts Department coin

On 1st March 2012, the Treasury department of Thailand have issued a bimetallic 10 Baht coin to commemorate 100 years of "Fine Arts Department" or กรมศิลปากร which was established on 27 March 1911.

Coin details:

10 Baht: Bimetallic, 8.5g, 26mm, Mintage 2 million coins

India: Coins with Rupee symbol - updated image

The new series of coins bearing the rupee symbol has been issued recently but only 1, 2 and 5 Rupee coins seem to be circulating. The bimetallic 10 Rupees coin is very rarely found. Several collectors have posted images of their proud collection of this series on the internet. One such blog is India Coins Collections

Thailand: King Bhumibol's 7th Cycle birthday coins

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand will turn 84 on 5th December 2011. To celebrate this auspicious occasion, the Thai Treasury will issue a set of commemorative coins in the denominations of 50 Baht, 800 Baht and 16,000 Baht. This coins can now be booked at the Treasury and will be available later during the year.

Expect a commemorative banknote as well. Whether this will coincide with the issuing of the new 16th series banknotes or not is still not clear.

Malaysia: Upcoming New Coin Series

Bank Negara Malaysia is issuing commemorative coins to mark the new Third Series of the Malaysian coins which will be available for circulation early next year. Launched on 25th July 2011 by the Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia, the commemorative coins issued are in the denominations of 5 sen, 10 sen, 20 sen and 50 sen.



For more details see:

1. Press release of Bank Negara Malaysia.

2. The Third Series of Malaysian Coins.

India: New Coin Series with Rupee symbol

The new Indian Rupee symbol was announced about an year ago. Last week the Finance ministry announced a new series of coins bearing this rupee symbol. The new series will consist if 50 paise, 1, 2, 5 and 10 Rupees. Note that the 25 paise coin has been discontinued since 2010. Material specifications are still not very clear apart from the fact that the 10 Rupees coin will still be a bi-metallic.

Below is an image posted in many internet sites.



For more details see:

1. Press release of Ministry Of Finance on 8th July 2011.

2. My previous post on Indian Rupee gets new symbol.

Thailand: New commemorative coins

On 18th May 2011, the Treasury department of Thailand will issue two new coins - a bimetallic 10 Baht coin commemorating 120 years of the Comptroller General’s Department and a Cupro-nickel 20 Baht coin commemorating 100 years of Vajiravudh College. Images courtesy of Treasury Department.



10 Baht: Bimetallic, 8.5g, 26mm, 1mil coins


20 Baht: Cupro-Nickel, 15g, 32mm, 0.5mil coins

Thailand: New Bimetallic commemorative coin issued

The Treasury department of Thailand have issued a bimetallic 10 Baht coin to commemorate 60 years of "Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board" or NESDB. Established in 1950, NESDB is a key agency on planning and formulation of development strategies here in Thailand.



Coin details:

10 Baht: Bimetallic, 8.5g, 26mm

Thailand: 2 new commemorative coins issued

The Treasury department of Thailand today issued two commemorative coins.


"Father of Thai Trade title given to HM King Rama 3"

Coin details:
20 Baht: Cupro-Nickel, 15g, 32mm, 300k coins



"150 years of Royal Thai Mint"

Coin details:
50 Baht: Cupro-Nickel, 21g, 36mm, 150k coins

India: Platinum Jubilee of RBI coins

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will shortly put in to circulation new commemorative circulation coins of 1, 2, 5 and 10 Rupees to mark the Platinum Jubilee of RBI.

For more details see press release of Reserve Bank of India on 12 November 2010.

Thailand: New Commemorative coins issued

The Treasury department of Thailand will issue coins commemorating the 84th (7th cycle) birthday of HRH Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda Sirisobhabannavadihad (pronounced as Petcharat) on 1st November 2010. She is the only child of King Rama VI, the 6th King of the ruling Chakri dynasty. She was only 1 day old when her father passed away in 1925. She actually will be turning 85 years old this coming 24th November.



Coin details:
10 Baht: Bi-metallic, 8.5g, 26mm
20 Baht: Cupro-Nickel, 15g, 32mm
800 Baht: 92.5% Silver, 22g, 35mm

India: XIX Commonwealth Games commemorative coins

The Reserve Bank of India will shortly put in to circulation new commemorative circulation coins of 2 and 5 Rupees made of Ferritic Stainless steel and Nickel Brass respectively to mark the XIX Comonwealth games being currently held in New Delhi.

For more details see press release of Reserve Bank of India on 11 October 2010.

Thailand: WIPO Award Commemorative coins issued

"World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Global Leader Award to HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej" commemorative coins will be issued on 2nd August. These coins were announced way back in December 2009 and the designs were released in May this year.



Coin details:




Previous posts:
http://numis-asia.blogspot.com/2010/05/thailand-updates-on-commemorative-coins.html

http://numis-asia.blogspot.com/2009/12/thailand-new-commemorative-coins.html

Thailand: Gold coins issued by Rama 5

Siamese trade was booming during the 1860's due to which there were surplus of gold coins in the royal treasury. HM Rama IV ordered issuing of three gold coins in 1863 which were mainly given as presents to the royal family members and other dignitaries. The three denominations were:

Pad Dueng = 2 ½ Baht equivalent
Pit = 4 Baht equivalent, and
Tot = 8 Baht equivalent

The same three denominations were issued again by HM Rama 5 in 1894 with slight differences in the design (more refined) and weights.





Click on above to see Checklist of gold coins.


Please refer to my previous posts Thailand: Circulating coin denominations and Thailand: Coin Dating to understand denominations and dates.

Thailand: 2 Baht circulation coin dated 2010 issued

พ.ศ. ๒๕๕๓ = B.E. 2553 = 2010
Yesterday I found a 2 Baht circulation coin dated 2010 during a regular shopping run to a wet market. A quick call to Thai Treasury and I found out that even the 1 Baht coin dated 2010 is in circulation. Will find it and post images soon.

Thailand: Updates on Commemorative coins to be issued in 2010

On 22nd December 2009, the Treasury department of Thailand had announced plans for release of commemorative coins during the year 2010. See updates on these coins below.

1. 10 Baht Bi-metallic coin marking "100 years of Command and General Staff College, Royal Thai Army" (http://numis-asia.blogspot.com/2009/07/thailand-new-commemorative-coins.html) - No definite issue date.

2. "World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Global Leader Award to HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej" - 16,000 Baht 99% Gold and 800 Baht 99% Silver proof coins along with a 20 Baht Cupro-nickel coin (http://numis-asia.blogspot.com/2009/12/thailand-new-commemorative-coins.html) - Issue date not finalised but sketches of design released.



3. "84th Birthday of HRH Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda Sirisobhabannavadi" - Silver 800 Baht, Cupro-Nickel 20 Baht and Bi-metallic 10 Baht coins - Will be issued very soon.

4. 10 Baht Bi-metallic coin marking "150th Birthday of HRH Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse" - No definite issue date.

5. 20 Baht Cupro-nickel coin marking "Father of Thai Trade title given to HM King Rama 3" - No definite issue date.

6. 50 Baht Cupro-nickel coin marking "150 years of Royal Thai Mint" - No definite issue date.

Two new coins are also being talked about.

7. "60 years Royal Coronation of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand" - 25,000 Baht 99% Gold (26mmx15g) and 1,000 Baht 99% Silver (30mmx15g) coins - will be announced mid-May and made available to public by reservation only.

8. "60 years Royal Wedding of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand" - details not known.

India: 60 years Commonwealth - new 5 Rupees coin

The Reserve Bank of India will shortly put in to circulation new commemorative circulation coins of 5 Rupees made of Nickel Brass to mark 60 years of Commonwealth.



Image from ebay

For more details see press release of Reserve Bank of India on 20 Apr 2010.

India: RBI Platinum Jubilee Commemorative coin set released

HE Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India, released a commemorative coin set to mark the occasion of Platinum Jubilee of Reserve Bank of India.



The set consists of five denominations - Re 1, Rs 2, Rs 5, Rs 10 and Rs 75. The first four denominations will also be issued as circulation coins. Images are still not available. However, the first details made available by RBI are as follows:

Obverse: All coins will bear the Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar in the center with the legend "Satyameva Jayate" (सत्यमेव जयते) in Hindi inscribed below. The upper peripheries will have the words "Bharat" (भारत) in Hindi and "INDIA" in English. The denomination value will appear below the Lion Capitol, flanked by "Rupiye" in Hindi and "RUPEES" in English.

Reverse: Reverse of the coins will bear the RBI emblem with inscriptions "RESERVE BANK OF INDIA" in Hindi and in English. "PLATINUM JUBILEE" in Hindi and in English along with year "1935-2010" shall also be inscribed below the emblem.

Sizes and other details are as below:



Press release of Reserve Bank of India on 1 Apr 2010.

Thailand: Siam Anachak Coins of Rama 5

The decimal system devised by HRH Prince Mahisorn, in which 1 Baht = 100 Satang, was introduced by HM King Rama 5 in 1897. The first coins made of cupro-nickel and dated 1897 were issued in 1898. Denominations issued were 2½, 5, 10 and 20 Satang. These coins are known as the "Siam Anachak" (สยามอาณาจักร) coins. These coins were also the first coins carrying the three-headed elephant. Note that date on the coins is ศก ๑๑๖ which is same as ร.ศ. (RS). RS 116 is equivalent to 1897.









Click to see Checklist of Siam Anachak coins.

Please refer to my previous posts Thailand: Circulating coin denominations and Thailand: Coin Dating to understand denominations and dates.

Thailand: Portrait-Phra Siam Thevathiraj Coins of Rama 5

Thailand is the only country in this region which has never been colonised in its history. When all its neighbours were been colonised either by the British or the French, Siam ( as Thailand was known) remained an independent Kingdom thanks to various treaties signed with the colonial powers. HM King Rama 5 thought that there must be a holy deity which is protecting the country and should be sculpted and worshipped. An 8" statue of Phra Siam Thevathiraj (or City God) made of solid gold was sculpted on his orders and is worshipped till today.



Phra Siam Thevathiraj statue


Bank of Thailand seal depicting Phra Siam Thevathiraj

This series of coins, known as the Portrait - Phra Siam Thevathiraj coins (เหรียญทองแดง พระบรมรูป - พระสยามเทวาธิราช ) carries HM King Rama 5's portrait on obverse and Phra Siam Thevathiraj with denomination and date on reverse.



Denominations issued were 1 Solot, 1 Att and 1 Sio. Only the first year carried the C.S. date (CS1249 or 1887). Then onwards the coins carried RS dates. Die rotation varieties exist for all three denominations as given in the checklist. The 1 Att coin for years RS 114 and 122 have different die rotation and date numeral size combination.



^^ or medallion die rotation coins have large numerals while ^v (standard die rotation) have small numerals



Click to see Checklist of Portrait - Phra Siam Thevathiraj coins.

Please refer to my previous posts Thailand: Circulating coin denominations and Thailand: Coin Dating to understand denominations and dates.

Thailand: Portrait-Coat of Arms Coins of Rama 5

The first coins to carry the portrait of HM King Rama 5 were issued in 1876. These coins were minted using the latest steam powered press bought from Taylor and Challen in 1875 and carried the coat of arms, designed by Rama 5 in 1873, on reverse. This series of coins, therefore, are known as the Portrait - Coat of Arms (พระบรมรูป - ตราแผ่นดิน).



Silver Portrait - Coat of Arms coins


Denominations issued were 1 Fuang, 1 Salueng and 1 Baht. From 1876 to 1900 the coins did not carry dates. From 1901 onwards all coins of this series carried RS dates.



Gold 1 Fuang coins were also issued with portrait on obverse and Coat of Arms on reverse. 1 Salueng gold coin is reported to exist but are extremely rare.


Other rare coins in this series are the patterns. A copper pattern for 1 KuengTamlung (2 Baht) is up for auction at Eurseree on 28th March 2010 with a starting price of 600,000 Baht or USD 18,200.



Please refer to my previous posts Thailand: Circulating coin denominations and Thailand: Coin Dating to understand denominations and dates.



Date varieties of 1 Baht RS 121


Click to see Checklist of Portrait - Coat of Arms coins.


All coin images courtesy www.eurseree.com