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: Series 11 Banknotes

Since Thailand could not easily import banknotes from abroad when banknotes were first used in 1902 and could not order banknotes during the late part of WWII (1941-1945). Banknotes had to be printed by Royal Thai Survey Department or Naval Hydrographic Department, etc. which was not only inefficient but also resulted in low quality banknotes. The scarcity of banknotes had affected all economic sectors of the country during that period. The Bank of Thailand was authorised by the Thai Cabinet on September 5, 1961 to establish the Note Printing Works. The Note Printing Works offically commenced operation when H.M. King Rama 9 graciously presided over the inauguration ceremony on June 24, 1969. Commemorative banknotes of 5 Baht and 10 Baht were issued to mark this occasion.


Series 11 Commemorative banknotesImages courtesy www.eurseree.com
Series 11 Commemorative Banknotes Checklist

After the establishment of Note Printing Works, Series 11 consisting of five denominations namely 5 Baht, 10 Baht, 20 Baht, 100 Baht and 500 Baht were printed here. They were issued from the lowest to the highest denomination starting in 1969. In 1975, 500 Baht banknotes were printed for the first time ever, and the issue of this note first enabled the Note Printing Works to manage the whole production process, including the designing and engraving.


Series 11 regular Banknotes

Series 11: 5, 10 and 20 Baht Banknotes Checklist

Series 11: 100 and 500 Baht Banknotes Checklist

In Nov 1971, Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn staged a military coup, dissolved Parliament and appointed himself Chairman of the National Executive Council, and served as a caretaker government from 18 Nov 1971 to 17 Dec 1972. No Finance Minister was appointed during this time and the 100 Baht banknotes of type 1 (which were issued in Oct 1972) were signed by Boonma Wongsawan who was the Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Finance. This is the only banknote of Thailand ever signed by a Permanent Secretary. Boonma Wongsawan later became a Finance Minister between 16 Oct 1973 and 29 May 1974 and signed 10, 20 and 100 Baht banknotes issued during this period. See all above checklists for signature details.


Series 11: 100 Baht Type 1 banknote

For MS-Excel or PDF checklists, please contact me at sbasu@loxinfo.co.th

Thailand: Series 10 Banknotes

100 Baht banknotes of Series 9 were heavily counterfeited forcing the government to issue a new series in 1968. The 10th series comprised of only one denomination i.e. 100 Baht. To prevent counterfeiting, these banknotes printed at Thomas de la Rue, used intaglio printing and security threads with microlettering ประเทศไทย (or as Thailand is written in Thai) printed at intervals. These notes were used for another 4 years before Series 11 was introduced in 1972.



As stated above and in checklist below, only 100 Baht denomination with 2 signature varieties are available for this banknote. These notes are very popular items for Thai banknote collectors and cost about 1,000 Baht for a pair (UNC - both sig varieties).



Click on above image to see Checklist of Series 10 banknotes. For MS-Excel or PDF checklists, please contact me at sbasu@loxinfo.co.th

Thailand: Series 9 Banknotes

Series 8 banknotes were the last banknotes issued with HM King Rama 8's portrait as he passed away on 9 June 1946. Series 9 banknotes issued from 1948 onwards carried portrait of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama 9). This series, printed by Thomas de la Rue, were used for almost 20 years and forms the basis for design (colour) of present day banknotes in circulation.


Series 9 banknotesImages courtesy www.siambanknote.com

Denominations issued were 50 Satang, 1 Baht, 5 Baht, 10 Baht, 20 Baht and 100 Baht. 1,000 Baht notes were printed but never issued into circulation fearing inflation.

50 Satang notes issued in 1948 were of only 1 type while 1-20 Baht notes had 6 different design types and 100 Baht had 5 types. The type varieties as given in Checklist and images below differ mainly in:

a) Portrait type - Younger King's portrait and King in Field Marshal's uniform
b) Serial number colour - Red and Black
c) Security thread - Scattered Red and Blue threads and Metal Security thread
d) Watermark - Constitution on pedestal tray and King's portrait
e) 2-line text on reverse - Small and Large font and also wording


Click on above images to see type variety details


50 Satang Checklist


1 Baht Checklist


5 Baht Checklist


10 Baht Checklist


20 Baht Checklist


100 Baht Checklist


1,000 Baht Checklist

Click on above images to see Checklists of Series 9 banknotes. For MS-Excel or PDF checklists, please contact me at sbasu@loxinfo.co.th

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

Thailand: Monogram-Wreath Coins of Rama 5

Second series of coins issued during the reign of HM King Rama 5 are known as the Monogram - Wreath (จ.ป.ร. - ช่อชัยพฤกษ์) coins as the obverse carries the royal monogram จ.ป.ร. (pronounced as Cho Po Ro) while the reverse consists of the denomination and year within a wreath.

Denominations issued were 1 Solot (1/2 Att), 1 Att, 1 Sio (2 Att) and 1 Sik (4 Att). All denominations are copper coins. 1 Att coins made of Nickel are reported to exist but are very very rare. Refer to my previous post Thailand: Circulating coin denominations to understand the denominations.

Note that these are also the first coins where C.S. or จ.ศ.(Chula Sakarat จุลศักราช) dates appeared. See Thailand: Coin Dating.


จ.ป.ร. monogram




Click to see Checklist of Monogram-Wreath coins.

Thailand: Chula Mongkut-Chakra coins of Rama 5

HM King Rama 5 became the 5th king of the Chakri dynasty in 1868. The first coins minted during his reign were the 1 Solot tin coins. Issued in 1868 (B.E. 2411) the coins had three crowns or Chula Mongkut (privy seal of HM King Rama 5) on obverse and an Elephant within a Chakra (wheel) on reverse. Several patterns made out of Copper and Silver in the same year are known to exist.


Y# 16 - 1 Solot (1/16 Fuang or 1/128 Baht)

Chula Mongkut privy seal of HM King Rama 5



In 1869 (B.E. 2412), silver coins for 1 Fuang, 1 Solot and 1 Baht were issued carrying same design as shown above.


Click to see Checklist of Chula Mongkut-Chakra coins.

Note that in Standard Catalog of World Coins 1801-1900 published by Krause Publications, these coins are stated to have been issued during reign of HM King Rama 4. This is not correct as the privy seal of HM King Rama 4 was different and as shown below.


Maha Mongkut privy seal of HM King Rama 4