Thailand: Coin Dating

Coins minted before 1874 AD did not carry any dates. Copper coins issued in 1874 during the reign of HM King Rama 5 were the first coins where C.S. or จ.ศ.(Chula Sakarat จุลศักราช) dates appeared. CS dating is believed to have started in Burma during 639 AD and used widely in Lanna, Sukhothai and Ayuthaya periods and in Burma and Cambodia.


Y# 19 - 1 Sio CS 1236 (1874AD)

In 1888 HM King Rama 5 declared 1782 as the epoch for the counting of years. This is because on April 6, 1782, Rattanakosin (present day Bangkok) was established as the capital by HM King Rama I and thus began the present Chakri dynasty.

From 1890 all coins carried R.S. or ร.ศ. (Rattanakosin Sok รัตนโกสนทรศก) dates.


Y# 22 1 Att RS 122 (1903AD)

In 1912 HM King Rama 6 changed the year counting to B.E. or พ.ศ. (Budhist Era พุทธศักราช). Coins since then carry on B.E. dates.


New series 10 Baht circulation coin BE 2552 (2009AD)

Date conversion table below will help converting dates from different calendar eras.

Thailand: Circulating coin denominations

Before 1860, Thailand did not produce any coins using modern methods. Bullet money known as Pod Duang were used since the very early Sukhothai dynasty (1781 BE or 1238 AD). In 1860 during the reign of HM King Rama 4, the first series of milled coinage were issued.


Courtesy: http://siamcoins.tarad.com and www.eurseree.com


Next week I will start posting about circulation coins issued since 1860 in Thailand. But to understand the coins properly one must know about denominations or different units used for Thai coins.

Until 1897 the Baht was subdivided into Fuang and Att as given below.

1 Baht
= 4 Salueng
= 8 Fuang
= 16 Sik
= 32 Sio or Pai
= 64 Att
= 128 Solot

The decimal system devised by HRH Prince Mahisorn, in which 1 Baht = 100 Satang, was introduced by HM King Rama 5 in 1897. However, coins denominated in the old units were issued until 1910.

Most common coin denominations issued till 1910:


In 1897 the first decimal coinage were issued. Since then 1 Baht = 100 Satang has been used till date. Most common denominations used for circulation coins are:

1 Satang - still used but only for transactions between financial institutions
5 Satang - still used but only for transactions between financial institutions
10 Satang - still used but only for transactions between financial institutions
20 Satang - last issued 1945
25 Satang - still used
50 Satang - still used
1 Baht - still used
2 Baht - in use since 2005
5 Baht - in use since 1972
10 Baht - in use since 1988

Singapore: 1,000 Dollars note with two triangles

1,000 Dollars note with two triangles beneath the word GOVERNMENT on reverse is confirmed. Whether there are notes with a single triangle is not known.




Anyone interested in buying these notes can contact Vincent Tan.

Singapore: 2 Dollar banknote with two squares confirmed

On Oct 8, 2009 in www.banknotenews.com it was reported that Singapore 2 and 10 Dollar polymer notes have small squares beneath the titles on the back vignette. The 2 Dollar note (Pick 46) had been confirmed both with and without a single square beneath the word EDUCATION.

This month the 2 Dollar note with two square dots is confirmed to be in circulation.






Anyone interested in buying these notes can contact Vincent Tan.

Thailand: Occupation coinage during Rama 8

In my earlier post Thailand: Series 7 Special - 50 Baht "Mourning" notes, I had talked about 1 Dollar banknotes prepared by Thai government for issue in 4 northern Malay states of Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, and Terengganu. These notes were never issued but were changed to 50 Baht when Thailand faced a shortage of banknotes in 1945.

Along with the 1 Dollar banknotes, tin coins of 3 denominations were also minted but again never issued due to Japanese opposition.


KM# 5 - 1 Cent; KM# 10 - 5 Cents and KM# 15 - 10 Cents

These "Occupation coins" are rare and extremely expensive. A set of these coins were auctioned by Eur-seree Collecting at 440,000 Baht or approx USD 13,000 in 2006.

Thailand: Series 8 Banknotes

After the end of WWII, the Thai government failed in getting Thomas de la Rue to print new banknotes as the printing company had been damaged during the war and was unable to accept new orders. The Thai government thus turned to the U.S. government for assistance. The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing prepared the printing plates and the banknotes were printed by Tudor Press Inc. These series of banknotes were issued late 1946 and early 1947.


Click on above for larger image.

Denominations issued were:
1 Baht : Pick 63
5 Baht : Pick 64
10 Baht : Pick 65
20 Baht : Pick 66, and
100 Baht : Pick 67

These 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). Series 9 notes were used for almost 20 years and will take me some time to compile all details like watermarks, serial numbers, etc. to put them in this blog.

Thailand: Series 7 Special - 1000 Baht Banknote

In 1943 demand of low value notes increased due to presence of Japanese occupying forces. To prevent further shortage of banknotes, high value of 1000 Baht notes were issued.


Pick 60 & 61: 1000 Baht. Note the red stamp of Bank of Thailand on right of reverse. This stamp was used only for high value notes to detect counterfeits.

Pick 60 (red and yellow shades) was issued in August 1943
Pick 61 (brown and yellow shades) was issued in March 1944
They were taken out of circulation in 1945.

Both notes were printed by the Royal Thai Survey Department using paper produced by Thai Paper Mills at Kanchanaburi province.

Thailand: Series 7 Special - 50 Baht "Mourning" notes

By signing the Anglo-Siamese treaty of 1909, Thailand relinquished its claims to sovereignty over 4 northern Malay states of Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, and Terengganu. However in 1943, the Japanese occupying forces returned these territories to Thailand in appreciation of Thailand's willingness to free passage of Japanese troops.

The Thai government printed new 1 Dollar banknotes for use in these 4 Malay states. But since the Japanese had already issued their own Dollar and Cents banknotes in all of occupied Malaya, Thailand decided not to launch these notes. Later in 1945 these notes were changed to 50 Baht when Thailand faced a shortage of banknotes. They were withdrawn and were not accepted as legal tender from Dec 1946.

These banknotes are often referred to as the "Mourning" notes as they were overprinted with black bands. They are now extremely difficult to find in any condition.


Pick R1: 1 Dollar - never issued


Pick 62Ba : 50 Baht overprint issued 8th Feb 1945


Pick 62Bc : 50 Baht overprint issued 13th Feb 1945


Pick 62Bb : 50 Baht overprint issued 21st Feb 1945

All above images courtesy of www.siambanknotes.com.

Thailand: Series 7 Special - 1 Baht "Kongtek" Banknote

This 1 Baht banknote, issued in 1942, was printed by the Royal Thai Survey Department using domestic materials. Hence the poor paper and print quality. Since these banknotes looked similar to fake notes burnt during Chinese funerals, they were called "Kongtek" (กงเต๊ก) notes.

They are now very difficult to find in good condition.


Pick 58a: 1 Baht

Thailand: Series 7 Special - 1 Baht Invasion notes

One Baht banknotes, printed by Thomas de la Rue, were meant to be used in territories occupied by the British forces after WWII . However, to solve its severe shortage of banknotes, the Thai government asked the British for help. These notes were overprinted with Thai inscripts, signature and serial number and then issued in 1946.


Pick 62Aa and 62Ab: 1 Baht (Click on above for larger image)


Differences between P62Aa and P62Ab lies in the Thai inscript "This notes is legal tender in accordance with the law"


P62Aa: “ธนบัตรเป็นเงินที่ชำระหนี้ได้ตามกฎหมาย” - note the word “ที่” (circled in green)



P62Ab: “ธนบัตรเป็นเงินชำระหนี้ได้ตามกฎหมาย” - note that the word “ที่” has been removed.

Thailand: Series 7 Special - 50 Satang Banknotes

10 Baht banknotes printed by the occupying Japanese in Indonesia were stolen during transport to Bangkok, Thailand. After declaring them illegal, the Thai government decided to overprint the remaining notes with a value of 50 Satang.


Pick 62: 50 Satang on 10 Baht (Click above to see larger size image)

Thailand: Series 7 Banknotes

In 1945, the Royal Thai Army Survey and the Royal Thai Naval Hydrographic departments could not print enough banknotes as Bangkok was being bombed by the Allied forces. The Bank of Thailand used government owned presses and contracted privately owned presses to print banknotes during this period. These banknotes are of poor paper and print quality and are difficult to find in UNC condition.

Denominations issued were:
1 Baht : Pick 54
5 Baht : Pick 55 and 55A
10 Baht : Pick 56, and
50 Baht : Pick 57 (For P57a, Bond paper was used for printing - the notes had no watermark or silk security threads)


Above image courtesy of Mr. Pipob Charoensri, a fellow collector and blogger from Chiangrai, Northern Thailand.



P54a: 1 Baht


Watermark details - Multiple wavy lines (Click above to see larger size image)

Thailand: Series 6 Banknotes

Towards the end of 2nd World War, Thailand had a serious shortage of banknotes. As production capacity and quality of the Royal Thai Army Survey department was not enough, Bank of Thailand assigned the Royal Thai Naval Hydrographic department as a second source for printing banknotes. Only 20 and 100Baht banknotes were produced.

Coin and Banknote dealer: Hong Kong

I started collecting coins and banknotes mostly by buying from dealers (shops) in countries that I travelled to. However, on short visits, it has never been easy to locate such dealers without advance information from friends or internet searches. To help others like me, I thought I should share some of the details that I have collected recently.

On my recent trip to Hong Kong, I took advice from Vincent Tan, a Singaporean friend and a fellow collector, and went to Ho Mongkok Shopping Centre. This is quiet a rundown building at the Portland-Soy Street intersection in Kowloon. Several floors of coin/notes shops having plenty to choose from.


Red dot marks location of the Ho Mongkok Shopping Centre. It is located within walking distances from both Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei MTR stations.


At the intersection there is a Circle K convenience store.


There are one or two money exchangers next to the Circle K shop. The look out for this sign on the top...it is coloured red in the night.


The first shop on the right as you enter the building.


Mr. AK Lam - owner of AK Numismatic & Collection (ak_supershop@yahoo.com.hk). Speaks good English and has a good collection. I bought most of my stuff from him.

Thailand: Commemorative coins to be issued in 2010

On 22nd December, the Treasury department of Thailand announced plans for release of commemorative coins during the year 2010.

1. 100 years of Command and General Staff College, Royal Thai Army
a) 10 Baht Bi-metallic coin
Earlier post on this coin can be seen at:
http://numis-asia.blogspot.com/2009/07/thailand-new-commemorative-coins.html

2. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Global Leader Award to HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej
a) 16,000 Baht 99% Gold proof coin to be sold @ 25,000 Baht
b) 800 Baht 99% Silver proof coin to be sold @ 1,400 Baht
c) 20 Baht Cupro-nickel coin
Earlier post on this coin can be seen at:
http://numis-asia.blogspot.com/2009/12/thailand-new-commemorative-coins.html

3. 84th Birthday of HRH Princess Bejaratana
Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda Sirisobhabannavadi (pronounced Pet-Cha-Rat, born 24 Nov 1925) is the only daughter of late HM King Rama 6. She is a first cousin of current HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama 9).
a) 800 Baht Silver coin to be sold @ 800 Baht
b) 20 Baht Cupro-nickel coin
c) 10 Baht Bi-metallic coin

4. 150th Birthday of HRH Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse
HRH Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse was Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Siamese Army during the reign of HM King Rama 5 who was his half-brother. He is also the founder of the Thai postal service.
a) 10 Baht Bi-metallic coin

5. "Father of Thai Trade" title given to HM King Rama 3
On 4th November 2008, the Cabinet of Thailand passed a resolution to felicitate HM King Rama 3 as the Father of Thai Trade.
a) 20 Baht Cupro-nickel coin

6. 150 years of Royal Thai Mint
The Royal Thai Mint was established in 1860, under the Royal Decree of HM King Rama 4, inside the Grand Palace, in the same building where the bullet coins had been made, and named "Rong Kasap Sitthikarn". Flat coins are minted since then.
a) 50 Baht Cupro-nickel coin

Wish all readers a very Merry Christmas...