southeast asia: ...Thailand - 2018 Chakri Dynasty Series

ราชอาณาจักรไทย

Kingdom of Thailand

A new series of Thai baht with the new portrait of the current King Maha Vajiralongkorn or King Rama X who succeeded to the throne following the death of his father King Rama IX (King Bhumibol Adulyadej) on 13th October 2016.

This is the 17th Series of Thai banknotes and as expected, all notes depict the new portrait of King Rama X in his Air Force Marshal uniform on the front. On the back, from the 50 baht to 1000 baht, there are two portraits of the Thai Kings printed on each note, representing the Chakri Dynasty since 1782. Needless to say, the current King appears twice on the 1000 baht, both front and back;-

The portraits on the back of the notes are: -
*20 baht - The first Chakri dynasty king, King Rama I; Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok (1782-1809) & King Rama II; Phra Phutthaloetla Naphalai (1809-1824) [son of Rama I];
*50 baht - King Rama III; Nangklao (1824-1851) [son of Rama II] & King Rama IV; Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthra Maha Mongkut Phra Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua (1851-1868) [son of Rama II];
*100 bath - King Rama V; Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poraminthra Maha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua (1868-1910) [son of Rama IV] & King Rama VI; Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthra Maha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua (1910-1925) [son of Rama V];
*500 bath - King Rama VII; Somdet Chaofa Prajadhipok Sakdidej (1925-1935) [son of Rama V] & King Rama VIII; Ananda Mahidol (1935-1946 suicide/murdered aged 20) [grandson of Rama V];
*1000 bath - King Rama IX; Bhumibol Adulyadej (1946-2016) [grandson of Rama V] & King Rama X; Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun (since 13.10.2016) [son of Rama IX].

The 20, 50 and 100 baht banknotes were issued on 06.04.2018, which marked Chakri Memorial Day in commemoration of the Chakri Dynasty which was established since 1782, while the 500 and 1,000 baht notes were issued on 28.07.2018, which marked the current King Rama X's birthday anniversary.

In view of the above, I have listed these 5 banknotes as commemorative issues as well. This is a unique issue for Thailand as the designs incorporated all Kings, past and present for the Chakri Dynasty since it was founded in 1782. It should also be noted that Thailand is the only country in SouthEast Asia that has never been colonised by any western power. However Thailand was briefly occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army during the Second World War between 1941 to 1945.

Governor Veerathai Santiprabhob

Twenty Baht