Thailand: 10 Baht New Series Circulation coin dated 2009 issued

10 Baht coins minted in year 2009 are now in circulation.

พ.ศ. ๒๕๕๒ = B.E. 2552 = 2009

India: RBI to issue new 500 Rupee note with E inset letter

The Reserve Bank of India announced the release of 500 Rupees banknote with E inset letter (in both numbering panels) in the Mahatma Gandhi Series bearing signature of the present Governor, Dr. D. Subbarao.


Press release of Reserve Bank of India on 17 Sep 2009 .

Thailand: Bi-metallic coins

Thailand has issued lots of bi-metallic commemorative and circulating coins since 1988. A partially complete list can be found in Worldwide Bi-Metallic Collectors Club website.

A more complete list with images will soon be available here absolutely free of charge. Leave your email addresses at the comment box and be the first to receive copies.

Thailand: Banknote Serial numbers

Thai banknotes have serial numbers at top left and bottom right corners. The top left serial number has a prefix consisting of single digit Thai number and a Thai letter of alphabet followed by a 7 digit number.







The bottom right serial number similarly has a prefix consisting of single digit Western numeral and a letter of the English alphabet followed by a 7 digit number using Western numerals.

Prefix system:
In any note, the Thai and Western numeral prefix (indicated by 1 and 4 in images) are always same.

9 Thai and 9 English letters (indicated by 2 and 5 above) are used to get various unique combinations for a batch of notes.

For a new series of banknotes (not signature change), prefixes always start from 0กA. Each combination gives a batch of 1million notes (0กA 0000000 - 0กA 9999999). See combinations below.




Serial numbering of Replacement Notes using prefixes "พ" and "S" will be discussed at a later date.

Thailand: Banknotes issued 100 years back

Thailand's 1st series of banknotes were issued in 1902. These notes, by Thomas de la Rue, were printed only on one side and are known as the Uniface series. There were 7 denominations in all - 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 1000 Ticals . Each denomination had many types.

/>

Exactly 100 years back, Thailand issued 1000 Tical Uniface banknote type 2 into circulation on 23rd May 1909 (R.S. or ร.ศ. 128 ). This type carried signatures of Phra Manatmanit and Prince Kitiyakorn Woralak. Serial numbers started with E1 10001 (จ๑ ๑๐๐๐๑).

Note that these banknotes had 1902 printed on the obverse.

Picture courtesy of Mr. Pipob Charoensri, a fellow collector from Chiangrai, Northern Thailand.

Thailand: New Series 1 Baht Circulation Coin details

1 Baht coins account for 70% of the total 17 billion coins in circulation. To reduce production costs, new series coins made of Nickel-clad steel (rather than Cupro-nickel) were launched in Jul 2009. They are lighter by 0.4g as well.

The obverse has been updated with a more recent potrait of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The reverse has several noticeable differences as highlighted below.




On left is New Series and on right is older series (Y#183).


Thai and Arabic numeral:
Arabic number 1 is significantly taller than the Thai word for Baht "บาท". Thai number 1 (๑) also has a bigger starting head.



Chedi or Stupa:
Number of rings between the square base and the hemisperical dome in the new coins are one less than the older series.



Roof finials:
The Ubosot (ordination hall) roof finials have different lengths and distance separating them.

Thailand: 50 years of Office of National Research Council commemorative coin issued

Commemorative coin for 50 years of Office of National Research Council of Thailand (50 ปี สำนักงาน คณะกรรมการวิจัยแห่งชาติ) will be released on 18th August 2009.

Denomination: 10 Baht
Type: Commemorative
Diameter: 26mm
Weight: 8.5g
Composition: Outer ring - Cupro-Nickel (Cu 75% Ni 25%) Center - Aluminium Bronze (Cu 92% Ni 2% Al 6%)
Edge: Segmented Reeding
Description: Obv-HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) Rev-Planetory model of an atom within Dhammachakra (Wheel of Dhamma).
Date issued: 18 August 2009
KM#: NA
Catalog Nr.: 52001

Laos: New Commemorative coins issued

Bank of Lao PDR have announced two proof coins to commemorate 100th birth anniversary of President Souphanouvong on 13th July. The coins were minted in Russia.





Denomination: 100,000 Kip
Diameter: 27mm
Composition: 0.999 Gold 0.5oz AGW
Date issued: 13 Jul 2009
KM#: NA





Denomination: 100,000 Kip
Diameter: 36.5mm
Composition: 0.925 Silver
Date issued: 13 Jul 2009
KM#: NA

Thailand: A new 20 Baht Circulation Coin?

Economy of Thailand is expected to contract 4.5% from last year. The Treasury Department of Thailand has reported that coin exchanges for banknotes have nearly doubled in recent months. More than 7 million coins were returned to the Treasury Department per month compared with 3-4 million in normal economic times. Coin usage shows more 10 Baht coins in the market. No official statement has been issued whether the new series 10 Baht coin will be minted in 2009 or not.

However, an article which appeared in Bangkok Post on 27th July mentioned that "One official said the Treasury Department had held discussions with the Bank of Thailand about introducing a 20-baht coin to substitute for 20-baht banknotes. Coins typically have a lifespan of 10 years in circulation, significantly longer than more fragile banknotes."


A 20 Baht circulation coin?


WOW. That would be one big and heavy coin to carry in one's wallet as in the past all 20 Baht commemorative coins have been made of Cupro-Nickel having a diameter of 32mm and weighing 15g.


Will keep you all posted with new developments on this interesting development. Full article can be found at the link below...

Thailand: Banknotes issued 60 years back

In 1949, Thailand had issued several banknotes of denomination 1, 5 and 10 Baht. These had signatures of Prince Vivathanachai as Minister of Finance and Leng Srisomwong as Governor, Bank of Thailand. Note that serial numbers had either Red (Type 1) or Black colour (Type 2).


1 Baht, Pick 69a, sig 28 (Banknote Series 9 Type 1)

5 Baht, Pick 70a, sig 28 (Banknote Series 9 Type 1)

5 Baht, Pick 70b, sig 28 (Banknote Series 9 Type 2)

10 Baht, Pick 71b, sig 28 (Banknote Series 9 Type 2)



Pictures courtesy Siambanknote.com where more details can also be found.

Thailand: Differences in New and Old Series circulation coins

On left is the new 5 Baht coin and on right is the old series 5 Baht coin (Y#219) which has been in circulation since 1988.

The obvious differences seen in the new coin are:
* Weight is 6g compared to 7.5g for Y#219. It is much thinner.
* Triangular roof of the "Ubosot" is much more detailed
* Windows on either side have more finer details



For the 10 Baht coins, new series on left and old (Y#227 1988-2008) on right, noticable differences are:
* In new series coin, distance between numeral 1 and 0 on the Braille number 10 is more.
* Prang of Wat Arun has more details and is taller
* Inner brass ring does not have a raised border
* The waves on the river are thinner

Thailand: 5 Baht New Series Circulation coin dated 2009 issued

On 24 July I reported that newly released 5 Baht coins are minted in year 2008 but released into circulation in 2009 thereby having two different circulation coinage with same year (2008). Coins minted in year 2009 are now in circulation.

พ.ศ. ๒๕๕๒ = B.E. 2552 = 2009

Thailand: Banknote signature varieties

Since the Sep 2006 coup, Thailand has seen several changes in government resulting in 5 different Finance Ministers with short tenures. Below is a list of signature varieties seen in banknotes during the last 3 years.

Tarisa Watanagase was appointed as Governor of Bank of Thailand in Oct 2006 replacing Pridiyathorn Devakula who was made Finance Minister. Korn Chatikavanij is the current Finance Minister.





Sig 81

Sig 80

Sig 79

Sig 78

Sig 77