Thai baht

Cowrie shells from the Mekong River had been used as currency for small amounts since the Sukhothai period. Before 1860, Thailand did not produce coins using modern methods. Instead, a so-called "bullet" coinage was used, consisting of bars of metal, thicker in the middle, bent round to form a complete circle on which identifying marks were stamped.[14][15] Denominations issued included 1⁄128, 1⁄64, 1⁄32, 1⁄16, 1⁄8, 1⁄2, 1, 1+1⁄2, 2, 2+1⁄2, 4, 4+1⁄2, 8, 10, 20, 40 and 80 baht in silver and 1⁄32, 1⁄16, 1⁄8, 1⁄2, 1, 1+1⁄2, 2 and 4 baht in gold. One gold baht was generally worth 16 silver baht. Between 1858 and 1860, foreign trade coins were also stamped by the government for use in Thailand.

Podduang of the Thai Tical (Rama III & Rama IV)[16]
Image	Value				Width (mm)	Weight (g)	Composition	Inscription, Description	Date of Issue
	Name	Secondary Name	Silver Baht Value	Gold Baht Value
	Bia เบี้ย		1⁄6400	1⁄102400	25	1.58	Calcium Carbonate	None	1238-1869
	Half Pai กึ่งไพ	Att อัฐ	1⁄64	1⁄1024	2	0.25	Silver	State Ensign of Rattanakosin	1824-1851
	Pai ไพ		1⁄32	1⁄512	4	0.5	Silver	State Ensign of Rattanakosin, Castle	1824-1856
	2 Pai สองไพ	Half Feuang กึ่งเฟื้อง	1⁄16	1⁄256	6	1	Silver	State Ensign of Rattanakosin, Castle	1824-1856
	Feuang เฟื้อง		1⁄8	1⁄128	6.5	1.98	Silver	State Ensign of Rattanakosin, Castle	1824-1856
	Saleung สลึง		1⁄4	1⁄64	9	3.7	Silver	State Ensign of Rattanakosin, Castle	1824-1856
	2 Saleung สองสลึง	Half Baht กึ่งบาท	1⁄2	1⁄32	11	7.6	Silver	State Ensign of Rattanakosin, Castle	1824-1856
	Baht บาท		1	1⁄16	14.5	15.14	Silver	State Ensign of Rattanakosin, Castle	1824-1856
	Gold Half Feuang กึ่งเฟื้องทอง	Gold 2 Pai สองไพทอง	1	1⁄16	5	1	Gold	State Ensign of Rattanakosin	1851-1856
	2 Baht สองบาท	Half Tamleung กึ่งตำลึง	2	1⁄8	17.5	30.30	Silver	State Ensign of Rattanakosin, Castle	1824-1856
	Gold Feuang เฟื้องทอง		2	1⁄8	6	1.5	Gold	State Ensign of Rattanakosin	1851-1856
	4 Baht สี่บาท	Tamleung ตำลึง	4	1⁄4	23.5	60.50	Silver	State Ensign of Rattanakosin, Castle	1824-1856
	Gold Saleung สลึงทอง		4	1⁄4	8	3.7	Gold	State Ensign of Rattanakosin, Phra Maha Mongkut Seal	1851-1856
	Gold Half Baht กึ่งบาททอง	Gold 2 Saleung สองสลึงทอง	8	1⁄2	9.5	7.56	Gold	State Ensign of Rattanakosin, Phra Maha Mongkut Seal	1851-1856
	Gold Baht บาททอง		16	1	12	15.14	Gold	State Ensign of Rattanakosin, Phra Maha Mongkut Seal	1851-1856
	Gold Half Tamleung กึ่งตำลึงทอง	Gold 2 Baht สองบาททอง	32	2	16	30.01	Gold	State Ensign of Rattanakosin, Phra Maha Mongkut Seal	1851-1856
	40 Baht สี่สิบบาท	Half Chang กึ่งชั่ง	40	2.5	48	606.5	Silver	State Ensign of Rattanakosin, Phra Maha Mongkut Seal	1880
	80 Baht แปดสิบบาท	Chang ชั่ง	80	5	59	1216	Silver	State Ensign of Rattanakosin, Phra Maha Mongkut Seal	1859

Rama III (1824–1851) was the first king to consider the use of a flat coin. He did so not for the convenience of traders, but because he was disturbed that the creatures living in the cowrie shells were killed. When he learned of the use of flat copper coins in Singapore in 1835, he contacted a Scottish trader, who had two types of experimental coins struck in England. The king rejected both designs. The name of the country put on these first coins was Muang Thai, not Siam.[17][18]

In 1860, modern style coins were introduced. These were silver 1 sik, 1 fuang, 1 and 2 salung, 1, 2 and 4 baht, with the baht weighing 15.244 grams and the others weight-related. Tin 1 solot and 1 att followed in 1862, with gold 2+1⁄2, 4 and 8 baht introduced in 1863 and copper 2 and 4 att in 1865. Copper replaced tin in the 1 solot and 1 att in 1874, with copper 4 att introduced in 1876. The last gold coins were struck in 1895.

Coins of the Thai Tical (Rama IV & Rama V)[16]
Image		Value		Dimensions (mm)	Weight (g)	Composition	Inscription, Description		Date of Issue
Obverse	Reverse	Name	Coinage Value				Obverse	Reverse
		Solot โสฬส	1/16 Feuang, 1/128 Baht	20 × 1	2.67	Copper	Kingdom of Siam, The Crowned Monogram of Rama V, Rama V	Solot, 16 Parts Feuang, 1236 J.S.	1875-1909
		Att อัฐ	1/8 Feuang, 1/64 Baht	25 × 1	5.58	Copper	Kingdom of Siam, The Crowned Monogram of Rama V, Rama V	Att, 8 Parts Feuang, 1236 J.S.	1875-1909
		Siao เสี้ยว	1/4 Feuang, 1/32 Baht	30.5 × 2	11.14	Copper	Kingdom of Siam, The Crowned Monogram of Rama V, Rama V	Siao, 4 Parts Feuang, 1236 J.S.	1875-1909
		Sik ซีก	1/2 Feuang, 1/16 Baht	38.5 × 2.5	22.57	Copper	Kingdom of Siam, The Crowned Monogram of Rama V, Rama V	Sik, 2 Parts Feuang, 1236 J.S.	1875-1909
		Feuang เฟื้อง	1 Feuang, 1/8 Baht	15 × 1	1.84	Silver	Phra Maha Mongkut Seal with No Star	State Ensign of Siam with No Star	1860-1909
		Saleung สลึง	1/16 Tamleung, 1/4 Baht	22 × 1	3.7	Silver	Phra Maha Mongkut Seal with 2 Star	State Ensign of Siam with 2 Star	1860-1909
		Half Baht ครึ่งสลึง	1/8 Tamleung, 1/2 Baht	27 × 1	7.46	Silver	Phra Maha Mongkut Seal with 4 Star	State Ensign of Siam with 4 Star	1860-1909
		Baht บาท	1/4 Tamleung, 1 Baht	31 × 1	15.45	Silver	Phra Maha Mongkut Seal with 8 Star	State Ensign of Siam with 8 Star	1860-1909
		Half Tamleung ครึ่งตำลึง	1/2 Tamleung, 2 Baht	37 × 2.5	30	Silver	Phra Maha Mongkut Seal with 16 Star	State Ensign of Siam with 16 Star	1860-1909
		Pot Dueng พัดดึงส์	5/8 Tamleung, 2.5 Baht	16 × 0.8	1.83	Gold	Phra Maha Mongkut Seal	State Ensign of Siam with No Star	1863-1908
		Pit พิศ	1 Tamleung, 4 Baht	17 × 1	3.88	Gold	Phra Maha Mongkut Seal	State Ensign of Siam	1863-1908
		Tot ทศ	2 Tamleung, 8 Baht	22 × 1	7.42	Gold	Phra Maha Mongkut Seal	State Ensign of Siam	1863-1908

In 1897, the first coins denominated in satang were introduced, cupronickel 2+1⁄2, 5, 10 and 20 satang. However, 1 solot, 1 and 2 att coins were struck until 1905 and 1 fuang coins were struck until 1910. In 1908, holed 1, 5 and 10 satang coins were introduced, with the 1 satang in bronze and the 5 and 10 satang in nickel. The 1 and 2 salung were replaced by 25 and 50 satang coins in 1915. In 1937, holed, bronze 1⁄2 satang were issued.

In 1941, a series of silver coins was introduced in denominations of 5, 10 and 20 satang, due to a shortage of nickel caused by World War II. The next year, tin coins were introduced for 1, 5 and 10 satang, followed by 20 satang in 1945 and 25 and 50 satang in 1946. In 1950, aluminium bronze 5, 10, 25 and 50 satang were introduced whilst, in 1957, bronze 5 and 10 satang were issued, along with 1-baht coins struck in an unusual alloy of copper, nickel, silver and zinc. Several Thai coins were issued for many years without changing the date. These include the tin 1942 1 satang and the 1950 5 and 10 satang, struck until 1973, the tin 1946 25 satang struck until 1964, the tin 50 satang struck until 1957, and the aluminium bronze 1957 5, 10, 25 and 50 satang struck until the 1970s. Cupronickel 1-baht coins were introduced in 1962 and struck without date change until 1982.

In 1972, cupronickel 5-baht coins were introduced, switching to cupronickel-clad copper in 1977. Between 1986 and 1988, a new coinage was introduced, consisting of aluminium 1, 5 and 10 satang, aluminium-bronze 25 and 50 satang, cupronickel 1 baht, cupronickel-clad-copper 5 baht and bimetallic 10 baht. Cupronickel-clad-steel 2 baht were introduced in 2005.

In 2008, the Ministry of Finance and the Royal Thai Mint announced the 2009 coin series, which included changes in materials to reduce production costs as well as an update of the image on the obverse to a more recent portrait of the king. The two-baht coin, confusingly similar in color and size to the one-baht coin, was changed from nickel-clad low-carbon steel to aluminium bronze. New two-baht coin was the first of the new series released on February 3, 2009, followed by the satang coins in April, a five-baht coin in May, a ten-baht coin in June, and a one-baht coin in July 2009.

In 2018, the Royal Thai Mint and the Ministry of Finance issued a new series of general circulation coins, featuring the same standard specifications, but feature a portrait of its current king, Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Coins of the Thai baht (Rama X)
Image		Value	Composition	Description		Date of minting
Obverse	Reverse			Obverse	Reverse
		1 satang	Aluminum	King Maha Vajiralongkorn	Monogram of Maha Vajiralongkorn	2018
		5 satang	Aluminum	King Maha Vajiralongkorn	Monogram of Maha Vajiralongkorn	2018
		10 satang	Aluminum	King Maha Vajiralongkorn	Monogram of Maha Vajiralongkorn	2018
		25 satang	Copper-plated steel	King Maha Vajiralongkorn	Monogram of Maha Vajiralongkorn	2018
		50 satang	Copper-plated steel	King Maha Vajiralongkorn	Monogram of Maha Vajiralongkorn	2018
		1 baht	Nickel-plated steel	King Maha Vajiralongkorn	Monogram of Maha Vajiralongkorn	2018
		2 baht	Aluminum bronze	King Maha Vajiralongkorn	Monogram of Maha Vajiralongkorn	2018
		5 baht	Copper nickel-clad copper	King Maha Vajiralongkorn	Monogram of Maha Vajiralongkorn	2018
		10 baht	Outer Ring: Copper nickel Center Plug: Aluminium bronze	King Maha Vajiralongkorn	Monogram of Maha Vajiralongkorn	2018

1. The 1, 5 and 10 satang are used only internally between banks and are not in circulation.[19]
2. Older coins, some of which are still in circulation, had only Thai numerals, but newer designs also have Arabic numerals.
3. The standard-issue 10-baht coin has, at the 12 o'clock position on the reverse, raised dots corresponding to Braille cell dot 1 and dots 2-4-5, which correspond to the number 10.
4. 10-baht coins are very similar to 2-euro coins in size, shape and weight, and are likewise bi-metallic, although they are worth only 25 eurocents. Vending machines not equipped with up-to-date coin detectors might therefore accept them as €2 coins or old Italian 500 lira coins as well.[20]
5. Many commemorative 1-, 2-, 5- and 10-baht coins have been made for special events. There also are 20-, 50-, 100-baht base metal commemorative coins and higher-denomination precious metal coins as well.

In February 2010 the Treasury Department of Thailand stated that it has been planning a new circulation 20-baht coin.[21]

Images of banknotes have been removed lest they infringe copyright,[30] but may be viewed at the Thai-language article linked in the margin.

These banknotes series are not demonitized, hence would be legal tender. Though, they are never seen in circulation anymore.

• 
  Series 9, Second Portrait
• 
  Series 10
• 
  Series 11
• 
  Series 12 & 13

These banknotes images are allowed under a strict copyright infringement exemption under the Chapter 1: Copyright, Part 6: Exceptions to Infringement of Copyright, Clause 7 of Copyright Act B.E. 2537 (1994) Amended by Copyright Act (NO. 2) B.E. 2558 (2015), and Copyright Act (NO.3) B.E. 2558 (2015) and Copyright Act (NO.4) B.E. 2561 (2018): reproduction, adaptation in part of a work or abridgement or making a summary by a teacher or an educational institution so as to distribute or sell to students in a class or in an educational institution, provided that the act is not for profit;

So as to serve as an educational material, only one side is shown, and any series beyond series 13 is omitted.

Series 9 Banknote Portrait Difference, young portrait (left), new portrait (right)

Series 9 banknotes are produced by Thomas De La Rue & Company Limited. There are two variations within this series, the young, and new portrait. According to the Bank of Thailand, the color schemes of this series established the denominations' colors for all of the following series due to the series circulating for 20 years.[43]

Series 10 banknotes are produced by Thomas De La Rue & Company Limited,due to heavy counterfiting, series 10 was issued in series 9's stead.[44] The 100 baht is the only denomination issued in this series.

In this series, the 500 baht note was introduced for the first time ever, this coincides with the Bank of Thailand fully convering to an in-house production.[45] As a consequence, the 1 baht note's production was cancelled.

Series 12 and 13 aims to glorify past thai monarchs, the Bank of Thailand dubbed this as "The Great Series". The 5 baht note's production was cancelled. The note 50 baht and 500 baht are a part of series 13, and was issued to commemorate the bicentennial celebration of Bangkok in 1982, though the production had to be delayed for the new printing press to be installed.[46]

Series 3 type ii banknotes are produced by Thomas De La Rue & Company Limited. It is the first series to hold Rama 8's portrait, which replaced Rama 7's portrait in the Type I.

Series 4 type i banknotes are produced by Thomas De La Rue & Company Limited.

Series 4 type ii banknotes are produced by Royal Thai Survey Department and the Naval Hydrographic Department. During world war 2, Thailand allied with the Empire of Japan. This meant that the government of Thailand could not order banknotes from Thomas De La Rue & Company Limited.

Series 5 banknotes are produced by Notes Printing Works of Japan.

Series 6 banknotes are produced by Royal Thai Survey Department.

Series 7 banknotes relied on private printing under the supervision of the Bank of Thailand. According to the Bank of Thailand, the quality of this series was barely sastisfactory.

The special series are banknotes which were issued during world war 2, each at different times.

At the end of world war 2, Thomas De La Rue & Company Limited's printing house suffered damage from German bombing, thus the Royal Thai Government turned to the United States government to produce the series 8. The Tudor Press company produced this series.

Series 2 banknotes are produced by Thomas De La Rue & Company Limited.

Series 3 type i banknotes are produced by Thomas De La Rue & Company Limited. This series was actually delayed due to the Siamese Revolution to abolish the absolute monarch and transform the institution into a constitutional monarchy. The issuance was supposed to happen in the early 1930s.

Series 1 was chosen due to the series which precedes this were non-decimal. Series 1 banknotes is the first series to be produced by Thomas De La Rue & Company Limited. In 1900, Charles James Rivett Carnac, a Royal Treasury Ministry advisor proposed that the Siamese Baht followed the issuances of banknotes followed the British standard. The banknote department was established quickly thereafter. The main characteristic of this series was that the notes are onesided and multilingual, containing Chinese, Malay (in Jawi script), and Latin script.[47] It was also the last series to use the term "tical" to refer to the Thai Baht, and the largest in term of size of circulated notes.

The characteristic of the banknotes of this era is that there were no series isued at the same time, rather they are issued sporatically and have multiple banks producing their own banknotes.