Thailand, 1996
50Baht
Fifty Baht Commemorative Banknote
- Country
- Thailand
- Issuer
- Bank of Thailand
- Issue year
- 1996
- Type
- Horizontal note
- Material
- Polymer
- Size
- 144 × 72 mm
- Signature
- Rerngchai Marakanond
- Serial
- 9K 6 9 2 1 3 1 3
Currency Information
The story
This is Thailand’s first polymer note, issued for the golden jubilee of Bhumibol Adulyadej’s accession, which was on 9 June 1946, so 1996 marked 50 years on the throne. The front shows the reigning king and the special Golden Jubilee crest, which replaces the usual Garuda-like emblem used on the regular 50 baht. The back honours an earlier king: the statue of the seated King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) stands in front of the Old Parliament House, and the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall by Mario Tamagno rises behind it. Rama VII is remembered as the king under whom absolute monarchy ended and Thailand’s first constitution was granted in 1932, which is why the throne hall, a symbol of the constitutional era, appears with him.
Front
King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) in military uniform with glasses, framed in an oval, Garuda (Thai national emblem) at top left, trident-in-chakra emblem with a sunburst beside the title, Royal Golden Jubilee crest (crowned spires flanked by two elephants) at right, large floral rosette with Thai ornament at the bottom, clear window with a ghost silhouette of the king at left, Thai texts "รัฐบาลไทย", "ธนบัตรเป็นเงินที่ชำระหนี้ได้ตามกฎหมาย", "ห้าสิบบาท", signature captions for the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Bank of Thailand.
Back
Seated statue of King Prajadhipok (Rama VII), Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall with its central dome, privy seal of Rama VII (three arrows under a crowned trident in a chakra, flanked by two bangsaek) at top left, Rama VII’s signature, Garuda at top right, clear window with a ghost portrait of King Bhumibol at right, Thai caption for King Prajadhipok with his years, trees at the lower right.
