The Exhibition of Money during the Rattanakosin Period

The exhibition displays about the currency during the Rattanakosin period from the reign of King Rama IV to King Rama X. In the early of King Rama IV, Siam still used Pod Duang as the currency with Chakra (the symbol of the reign) and Mongkut, or crown, (the symbol of the king) marks. Next, King Rama IV reformed the currency and flat round coins were produced. He had the royal emissaries to establish the relation with the United Kingdom and buy a steam-powered machine for the production of flat coins

While waiting for the arrival of the machine, Queen Victoria sent a man-powered minting machine to King Rama IV in 1857. The coins produced from this machine included one Baht, two Salung, Salung, and Fuang coins. This series was called "Royal Gift Coins”. When the steam-powered coin production machine arrived in Siam, King Rama IV ordered to build the first Thai Royal Mint; the first series of coins were produced in 1860.

In the reign of King Rama V, flat round tin coins were produced with Phra Kiew (the coronet) – Elephant inside Chakra design. The denomination was Solos. After that, coins were produced in different values: Baht, Salung and Fuang. He ordered a new machine to produce coins and built the Thai Royal Mint at a new place. The new mint produced coins with the royal portrait and the coat of arms design in values: Baht, Salung and Fuang, and thus making it was the first time that the obverse featured the portrait of the ruling monarch as it was internationally popular.

Designs of circulating coins, commemorative coins and medals produced in each reign of the Chakri dynasty were improved and developed from the past to present. We are welcome you to visit the exhibition of money during the Rattanakosin period Room on the first floor at the Coin Museum.