The Reserve Bank of India will shortly issue Rs.10 denomination banknotes with 'A' inset letter in both numbering panels and bearing the signature of Dr. D. Subbarao. Except for the change in the inset letter, the design of these notes to be issued is similar in all respects to the banknotes in 2005 Mahatma Gandhi Series with additional / new security features issued on April 27, 2006.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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