Thai money

In the ancient times, the Thais used "pod duang" (bullet money) as currency. Pod duang was similar to a grub lying curled up. It was generally called ngern klom (round metal currency) in accordance with its round figure. Later, in the reign of King Rama IV, the expansion of international trade was to have a profound effect on the mode of production of currency. Gradually melted and made by hand, Pod duang was not enough to be a medium of exchange. It could only produce 2400 Baht per day.

In 1853, in order to solve the problem of currency shortage, King Rama IV ordered the issues of money called "Mai" to meet the demand of a growing money economy. The first paper money was made of white pound paper. Its design was printed with ink at both sides. Included were the vermilion seal of the national emblem: Chakra and that of His Majesty's emblem: Grand Crown to prevent counterfeiting. However, it was not popular and disappeared at the end of the reign.

In 1874, King Rama V had temporary issues of paper money at low denomination. The money made from pound paper was named Ut - Kradat. There were big Thai alphabets which could read "This worths one Ut" printed in the middle of the leaf-designed bill. It was sealed with His Majesty's emblem. Since it was temporarily used, it lasted not very long.

The bank notes have really been in circulation since 1907. The first series of bank notes issued by the Royal Thai government were printed by The Thomas de la Rue and Company Limited of England.

The Thai bank notes have undergone changes through times. Most of them were printed abroad until 1961 when the cabinet entrusted the Bank of Thailand to establish a Note Printing Press. The Opening of the Note Printing Press of the Bank of Thailand was presided over by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on June 24, 1969. As a matter of fact, the 5 Baht and 10 Baht bills in Thai currency were first printed from this Note Printing Press.

Thai national flag

The traditional Thai flag of old, which was red, must have been flown in Thailand since the kingdom of Ayudhya (1680 A.D. or 2223 B.E.) It was common for the Thai ships at that time to display the red flag to be seen on the high seas and in the ports of neighbouring countries. In the Bangkok period, in order to differentiate the private merchant ships from state vessels, King Rama I had the picture of the royal insignia, the Chakra. A disc- like weapon of Lord Vishnu, placed at the centre of the red flag to be hoisted over the state ships.

When the three white elephants, highly coveted prizes to the Thai royalty, were acquired in the reign of King Rama III, the picture of white elephant was inserted in the Chakra on the red flag. King Rama IV, considering that the Chakra had been reserved only for the monarchy, ordered the removal of the Chakra out of the flag.

Therefore, the elephant flag was raised over both state and private ships. In 1914, at the royal command of King Rama VI, the official flag was the red elephant flag portraying the decorated white elephant positioned on the stand while the merchant flag was the striped red and white flag.

In 1917, taking note that the striped red and white flag was not so majestic, King Rama VI himself redesigned the flag by inserting the ark blue in the middle of the flag and named it “Trirong” or tricolour. The “Trirong” flag was proclaimed the Thai national flag on October 1, 1917, and was to be used in the public and private sectors alike. It consists of five horizontal bands of, from the top, red, white, a wider dark blue white and red. In the modern Thai flag the monarchy is represented by blue; Buddhism, by white and the Thai nation by red.

During the First World War, the “Trirong” flag was flown among the flags of the allied countries. On March 16, 1918, King Rama VI graciously bestowed the Thai Victory flag. The Brass Band played” La Croix” to decorate the Thai victory flag. The Brass Band played “La Marseillaise,” while the French and the Thai soldiers were shouting “Hurrah” harmoniously in their own mother tongues.

Thailand in Brief

Thailand located in Southeast Asia borders Laos to the Northeast, Cambodia to the Southeast, Burma to the West and Northwest, and Malaysia to the South. It covers an area of 518,000 square kilometres. Its longest North to South distance is about 1,620 kilometres while its maximum dimension of East to West is about 730 kilometres.

According to the Thais, the shape of Thailand on the map has been compared to the ancient axe. The northern part serves as the top of the axe with the largest area of the central part as the axe itself; and the long lower part as its handle. Looking at the Northeastern plateau starting from Nakhon Ratchasima province, some people may think of the head of a decorated elephant whose trunk extends down the Malay peninsula. The Northern part from Uttaradit province up to Chiang Rai province is similar to the crown. The mouth of this elephant is the gulf of Thailand while its lower lip is the Southeast.

Majestic mountains and forests in the North and the West are the source of four major rivers in the North: Ping, Wang, Yom, Nan, which link up to form the great Chao Phya river which transverses the rice bowl area of the country.

In the ancient time, the Thais called their homeland “ Muang Thai,” while the seafarers took its name from the capital, “Aydhaya.” An Englishman, Sir James Lancaster, who voyaged to the Far East in 1593, first applied the name of “Siam” to Thailand. The word “Siam” appeared for the first time in Thai language when the trade treaty was made between Thailand and England in the reign of King Rama IV. Siam was changed to Thailand on June 24, 1939. The total population is approximately 62,000,000.