Item number: A2159

Year: AD 1864

Material: Gold (.755)

Size: 25.8 x 25.8 x 0.7 mm

Weight: 7.6 g

Manufactured by: Royal Thai Mint, Bangkok

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2015

This is a 2-Salueng (สลึง, or Salu’ng) gold coin minted by the Royal Mint of Bangkok, Thailand, in the Buddhist year 2407 (AD 1864), during the reign of King Rama IV. Four Salueng equal eight Fueang (เฟื้อง), which is equivalent to one Thai Baht, or one quarter of a tamleung (ตำลึง), also known as pit (พิศ). This denomination was issued in AD 1860, 1864, and 1894. However, the 2-Salueng coin minted in AD 1860 was made of silver, while the 1894 version had a finely milled edge. The 1864 version, by contrast, featured a smooth edge and is considered relatively rare.

The obverse of the coin depicts an abstract representation of the Great Crown of Victory (พระมหาพิชัยมงกุฎ, Phra Maha Pichai Mongkut) at its centre, emitting radiant light from the top. This crown is one of the five royal regalia of the Chakri dynasty and symbolises the king’s divine authority, being worn only during coronation ceremonies. On either side of the crown are depictions of seven-tiered umbrellas, arranged in a tapering form resembling spires, each layer narrower than the one below. Originating from Hindu traditions, these umbrellas symbolise royal authority and protection over the people. The space between the crown and the umbrellas is filled with ornamental motifs, commonly floral and leafy patterns. These likely include palm leaves, the pink shower tree (Cassia bakeriana), and the golden shower tree (Cassia fistula), all of which are culturally significant flora in Thailand. Above and below each umbrella is a six-pointed star, amounting to four stars in total. These indicate the coin’s value of half a Baht, with each star representing one-eighth of a Baht.

The reverse side features a chakra (चक्र), or wheel, an important symbol in Vajrayāna Buddhism. Surrounded by blade-like leaf forms, the chakra also serves as the weapon of Vishnu. The chakra is emblematic of the Chakri dynasty, from which the name “Chakri” is derived, and the Thai king is traditionally regarded as an earthly incarnation of Vishnu. At the centre of the chakra is an Asian elephant, likely a white elephant. In Vajrayāna Buddhism, elephants represent strength and wisdom. In Thai culture, the prestige of monarchs was historically associated with the number of elephants, particularly white elephants, they possessed. King Rama IV is recorded to have kept fifteen such elephants, many of which came from Sri Lanka. Today, elephants are recognised as national and cultural symbols of Thailand, frequently appearing in official insignia and artistic representations. Positioned above, below, to the left, and to the right of the chakra are four six-pointed stars, marking the coin’s denomination.

In AD 1857, King Rama IV received a small manually operated minting press as a gift from Queen Victoria. Coins produced using this press were known as “tribute coins,” marking the beginning of machine-made coinage in Thailand. The system was later upgraded to steam power. In that same year, King Rama IV established the Royal Mint in the outer court of the Grand Palace in Bangkok. In AD 1875, King Rama V commissioned a new minting facility, and in AD 1876, new coins were issued. These coins adopted Western styles and featured, for the first time in Thai history, the king’s portrait, thus establishing a new tradition. Originally, the Baht was a unit of weight equivalent to 15 grams of silver. Following the fall in silver prices in AD 1902, Thailand informally adopted the gold standard, decoupling the Baht from silver and reorganising its monetary system.

King Rama IV (also known as King Mongkut, AD 1804–1868) was the fourth monarch of the Chakri dynasty. He reigned from AD 1851 to 1868 and is widely regarded as a pioneer of modernisation in Thailand. Prior to ascending the throne, he spent 27 years as a Buddhist monk, during which time he studied astronomy, mathematics, and Western knowledge extensively, acquiring a strong understanding of foreign cultures. During his reign, he actively promoted diplomatic relations with Western powers, including the signing of the renowned Bowring Treaty with Britain, which opened Thailand to international trade. Although the treaty placed certain limitations on Thai sovereignty, it enabled the country to avoid colonisation. Rama IV also prioritised educational and religious reforms, introducing Western-style education and scientific knowledge, while reorganising the monastic system and affirming the monarch’s role as the protector of Buddhism. He laid the foundations for Thailand’s modernisation and paved the way for further reforms under his son, King Rama V.

物件編號: A2159

年代: 公元 1864 年

材質: 黃金 (755‰)

尺寸: 25.8 x 25.8 x 0.7 mm

重量: 7.6 g

製造地: 泰國曼谷王家鑄幣廠

來源: 大城郵幣社 2015

這是一枚由泰國曼谷王家鑄幣廠於泰國佛曆2407年(公元1864年)鑄造，以泰王拉瑪四世之名鑄行的2索拉(สลึง, Salu’ng / Salueng)金幣。4索拉等於8富昂(เฟื้อง, Fueang)等於1泰銖等於1/4泰兩(ตำลึง, tamleung, or พิศ pit)。此金幣於公元1860年、1864年、1894年曾鑄行，惟公元1860年鑄行之2索拉幣為銀質，公元1894年鑄行之2索拉金幣為細齒邊，公元1864年版本則幣緣光滑，且較為罕見。

金幣的正面中央為抽象的大勝王冠(พระมหาพิชัยมงกุฎ, Phra Maha Pichai Mongkut ，Great Crown of Victory)，頂端放射出光芒。大勝王冠為泰國扎克里王室五聖物之一，是國王代行神權的象徵，只有登基儀式上才會配戴。王冠的兩側為七層華蓋，為布幕圍成環狀，由寬至窄層層向上堆疊，整體呈尖塔狀。華蓋源於印度教文化，因以傘護佑臣民而成為王權的象徵。王冠與華蓋間的空隙以適應紋樣填充，多為花木紋飾，可能為棕櫚葉，以及決明屬的花旗木(Cassia bakeriana)或阿勒勃(Cassia fistula)，三者皆為泰國文化中的常見植物。兩側華蓋的上下各有一顆六芒星，共計四顆星，標示了幣值½泰銖，每顆星等於⅛泰銖。

金幣的背面為金剛乘佛教中的脈輪(चक्र, chakra)，環繞著葉片狀的刀刃，同時也作為毗濕奴的武器。脈輪是扎克里王室的象徵，同時也是「扎克里」一詞(Chakri)的語源，泰國國王則被視為毗濕奴的化身。脈輪中央為一隻亞洲象，應為白象。在金剛乘佛教中，大象為力量與智慧的象徵，而在泰國，長期以來都以豢養象群——尤其是白象——的數量，來衡量君主的威望，拉瑪四世當政時便豢養了十五頭大象，多源自斯里蘭卡。今日，大象則作為泰國的國家與民族象徵之一，經常出現於官方符號與文藝作品中。脈輪的上、下、左、右則各有一顆六芒星，以標示幣值。

公元1857年，拉瑪四世受維多利亞女王贈一小型手動鑄幣機，所鑄之幣因而被稱為「貢物幣」，開泰國機製幣之濫觴，後改為蒸汽動力。公元1857年，拉瑪四世於曼谷大皇宮外廷建王家鑄幣廠。公元1875年，拉瑪五世下令新建鑄幣廠，公元1876年，新幣發行，新的硬幣仿效西方，為泰國史上首度發行刻有國王肖像的硬幣，成為了新的傳統。泰銖原為重量單位，為15克銀，在公元1902的銀價下跌中，非正式地採用了金本位，泰銖與銀脫鉤，貨幣體系重整。

拉瑪四世(Rama IV，亦稱蒙固王King Mongkut，生卒公元1804至1868年），為泰國扎克里王朝的第四位國王，於公元1851年至1868年在位。他在位期間推動多項現代化改革，積極與西方列強建立外交關係。即位前曾出家為僧27年，廣泛學習天文、數學與西方知識，熟悉外國知識與文化。在其統治下，泰國與列強積極發展外交關係，包括與英國簽訂著名的《寶寧條約》，開放貿易。主權雖遭限制，卻也免於淪為殖民地。他亦重視教育與宗教改革，推廣西式教育，引進科學知識，對僧團制度加以整頓，確立國王作為佛教護持者的地位。拉瑪四世被認為是泰國現代化的奠基者，也為其子拉瑪五世繼續深化改革鋪設了道路。