You are on country pages.

Guardian® bank notes
 
 
Thailand
 
         
 

 

Country overview

 

 

Prathēt tai
Capital Bangkok
Population (millions) 65.4
Area (sq km) 514,000
GDP per capita (USD PPP) 8,100

 

 

Polymer overview

 

 

Country ranking 8th All varieties 19
Year of the first polymer issue 1996 Proof 0
Number of polymer issues 3 Specimen 8
Current status Paper Regular 8
New polymer issues expected? No Replacement 3

 

 

General information

 

 

 

Bank of Thailand discontinued issuing polymer bank notes in September 2004.
 

 

 

 

Bank of Thailand

Bank of Thailand (Thai)
 

 

 

  

Each bank note is signed by the Minister of Finance and by the Governor of the Bank of Thailand. Please note that the spelling of the names may differ from that in other sources, since there is more than one way to transcribe writings from Thai to English.

 

Minister of Finance Governor Pick

Surakiart Sathirathai
Vijit Supinit
(01.10.90 to 01.07.96)		 Sig. 64

Bhodi Chunnanon
Rerngchai Marakanond
(13.07.96 to 28.07.97)		 Sig. 66

Amnuay Viravan 		Sig. 67

Tarrin Nimmanahaeminda
Chaiyawat Wibulswasdi
(31.07.97 to 04.05.98)		 Sig. 71

M.R. Chatu Mongol Sonakul
(07.05.98 to 30.05.01)		 Sig. 72

Somkid Jatusripitak
M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula
(31.05.01 to date)		 Sig. 74
 

 

 

 

Experience on polymer commemorative note in Thailand

By Mr Chumpol Santipong, Director, Note Printing Works, Bank of Thailand; 1996.

 

Bank of Thailand Annual reports: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005.

 

Thai numerals:

 

Replacement notes

 

Replacement notes with prefix letter "S" are used where bank notes were printed by the Note Printing Works of the Bank of Thailand (S3R2 and later issues). The description from the Bank of Thailand states: »After serial numbering, the 100% good sheets move on to cutting and packaging. Partially good sheets are cut and defective notes are sorted out and replaced by special notes bearing alphabetical code Paw in Thai or the Roman letter "S" before being shrink-wrapped for delivery to Issue Department.«

 

Biography

 

All of the bank notes carry the portrait of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX) (1927) of the Chakri Dynasty of Thailand.
 

 

Bank notes

 

COUNTRY S CURRENCY DENOMINATION SIZE PICK PRINTER POLYMER
Thailand 1 Baht 500 171x91 P101 NPA Guardian®

S DATE_1 DATE_2 SIGNATORY DESCRIPTION QUANTITY PRICE PICS
1S1 none not given Sig. 64 00A 00000 est. 10,000 not given F  B
1S2 none not given Sig. 66 NOT CONFIRMED no data not given F  B
1R1 none 1996 Sig. 64 510,000 €59.50
 F  B
1R2 none 1996 Sig. 66 490,000 €61.50
 F  B
 

A special commemorative note to celebrate the 50th anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol's Accession to the Throne. 

 

S1R1 issued on 09.07.96 (scheduled issue date 06.06.96).

 

 

Fully sequential numbering. The numbering system for this special commemorative note is different from the system that the Bank of Thailand normally uses. All notes have the number 50 in front of the prefix letter, and the first digit after the prefix letter is always 9, followed by another four digits. This gives 10,000 bank notes per each prefix combination—100 prefix combinations (10 Thai prefixes times 10 Roman prefixes) that have been used then make a total of 1,000,000 notes. This also means that the prefix in the upper left serial number usually does not correspond with the prefix in the lower right serial number. Refer to Replacement notes below for more information on prefixes.

 

Prefix chart for Thailand S1R1 and S1R2
S1R1 S1R2


A
A
A
A
A		  
A
A
A
A
A


B
B
B
B
B		  
B
B
B
B
B


C
C
C
C
C		  
C
C
C
C
C


D
D
D
D
D		  
D
D
D
D
D


E
E
E
E
E		  
E
E
E
E
E


F
F
F
F
F		  
F
F
F
F
F


G
G
G
G
G		  
G
G
G
G
G


H
H
H
H
H		  
H
H
H
H
H


J
J
J
J
J		  
J
J
J
J
J


S
S
S
S
S
S		  
S
S
S
S
All prefix letters are preceded by a number 50. Upper left prefix letter is given as a Thai-alphabet letter in the first line of each table field; bottom right prefix letter is given as an English-alphabet letter in the second line of each table field.

 

Here is an overview of the Thai letters used:

 

 

If only 10 prefixes (Thai and Roman, respectively) have been used, why was there also an S prefix, which is usually reserved for the replacement notes? The NPW already had the letter S in their numbering boxes, so they simply used it, not as a replacement prefix, but merely as one of the regular prefixes. There are no replacement notes for Thailand S1. This has been officially confirmed by the Bank of Thailand.

 

It should be added that some Thai authorities maintain that S1R1 bank notes where Western serial number contains S in the prefix and where Thai serial number contains the Thai letter phor phaan () are replacement notes. The phoor phan - S prefix combination is the standard replacement prefix combination for Thai bank notes. Additionally, the phor phaan - S prefix combination is the only prefix combination out of 100 combinations to fall out of the normal signature-numbering range (see the chart above for more details).

 

While there is some evidence to support the "replacement theory", such claims are highly questionable. Above all, the Bank of Thailand renounces the existence of replacement notes for this particular bank note issue. Additionally, every prefix combination (including phoor phan - S) uses fully sequential numbering, meaning that 10,000 notes have been printed for every prefix combination. It is almost impossible that exactly 10,000 replacement notes would have been required for a print run of 1,000,000 notes. It would also necessarily mean that these replacement notes replace notes with some other prefix combination, thereby reducing the officially confirmed issue size of 1,000,000 notes—we know that this is not true, since the numbering was fully sequential and there were no notes to replace.

 

 

Thailand, 500 Baht, issued in 1996. A special commemorative note to celebrate the 50th anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol's accession to the Throne. The King's image appears on the optically variable device in the clear window. Front: His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty, seated on the ceremonial throne at right. The Crowned Royal Seal at centre left and the Coat of Arms of Thailand at top left. Back: The King sponsors many developmental projects; he is pictured on the note during one of his tours of inspection. Representations of agricultural and water conservation projects to the left and right.

 

COUNTRY S CURRENCY DENOMINATION SIZE PICK PRINTER POLYMER
Thailand 2 Baht 50 144x72 P99 NPA Guardian®

S DATE_1 DATE_2 SIGNATORY DESCRIPTION QUANTITY PRICE PICS
2S1 none not given Sig. 66 0 A 0000000 est. 10,000 not given F  B
2S2 none not given Sig. 67 NOT CONFIRMED no data not given F  B
2R1 none 1996 Sig. 66 . 41,500,000 €5.50
 F  B
2R2 none  no data Sig. 67 . 58,500,000 €6.00
 F  B
 

 

A special commemorative note to celebrate the 50th anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol's Accession to the Throne.

 

S2R1 issued on 03.12.96.

 

 

Printed by NPA. Non-sequential numbering—skips the defective notes without replacement.

 

Prefixes for S2R1 notes run from 9A to 9E. Prefixes for S2R2 notes run from 9F to 9K and include 9T.

 

 

There are no replacement notes for Thailand S2. It should be noted, however, that some Thai authorities maintain that S2R2 notes with the western letter T are replacement notes.

 

 

Thailand, 50 Baht, issued in 1996. A special commemorative note to celebrate the 50th anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol's accession to the Throne. Front: His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty at right, wearing a military uniform. The Crowned Royal Seal at far right and the Coat of Arms of Thailand at top left. Back: King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) on the throne. In 1932, during His reign, a coup d'état was staged, resulting in transferral of power to a Legislative Assembly—the 150-year absolute rule of the Chakri Kings ended and the Constitutional Monarchy of the present day was born. The Royal Palace at left.

 

 

King Prajadhipok (King Rama VII) (1925-1934)

 

COUNTRY S CURRENCY DENOMINATION SIZE PICK PRINTER POLYMER
Thailand 3 Baht 50 144x72 P102 NPA, NPW Guardian®

S DATE_1 DATE_2 SIGNATORY DESCRIPTION QUANTITY PRICE PICS
3S1 none not given Sig. 67 printed by NPA; 0 A 0000000 no data not given F  B
 image from BNM
3S2 none not given Sig. 71 NOT CONFIRMED no data not given F  B
3S3 none not given Sig. 72 NOT CONFIRMED no data not given F  B
3S4 none not given Sig. 74 NOT CONFIRMED no data not given F  B
3R1 none 1997 Sig. 67 printed by NPA 100,000,000 €9.00 F  B
3R2 none no data Sig. 71 printed by NPW no data €4.50
 F  B
3R3 none no data Sig. 72 printed by NPW no data €7.50
 F  B
3R4 none no data Sig. 74 printed by NPW no data €3.50
 F  B
3Z1 none not given Sig. 71 printed by NPW; S replacement on S3R2 no data €9.00
 F  B
3Z2 none not given Sig. 72 printed by NPW; S replacement on S3R3 no data €14.00 F  B
3Z3 none not given Sig. 74 printed by NPW; S replacement on S3R4 no data €9.00
 F  B
 

 

50 Baht circulating note (Bank of Thailand: Series 15).

 

S3R1 issued on 18.08.97 (announced on 07.05.97).

 

Polymer substrate for the production of S3 bank notes has been delivered to NPW in 1998 and 1999.

 

 

Signature 67 appears on bank notes with serial number prefixes ranging from 0 A to 9 A and with prefix 0 B (all printed by NPA). All subsequent bank notes were printed by NPW. Defective notes were replaced with the replacement prefix S. Signature 71 appears on notes with serial number prefixes ranging from 0 C to 0 D. Signature 72 appears on notes starting with serial number prefix 1 D.

 

 

There are no replacement notes for S3R1. This note has been printed by NPA, and all NPA Thai notes have non-sequential numbering—skips the defective notes without replacement. All subsequent issues (S3R2 and later) have a replacement prefix S.

 

 

Thailand, 50 Baht, issued in 1997. Front: His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty of Thailand at right, wearing a military uniform. The Coat of Arms of Thailand at top left. Back: King Mongkut (Rama IV) seated at table. King Mongkut was the founder of the basic science in Thailand. He introduced the standard time in Thailand in 1852. He also accurately predicted the full solar eclipse, visible in Thailand on August 18, 1868—that is why a globe and a telescope are depicted at right. In commemoration of His support and promotion of science, the Thai government has declared August 18 "The National Science Day".

 

 

Plastic 50-baht bank notes to switch back to paper

 

 

Portrait of King Mongkut (King Rama IV) (1804-1868) appears on the reverse of S3.