Item number: A133

Year: AD 1851-1868

Material: Gold

Size: 7.0 x 6.0 x 7.0 mm

Weight: 3.85 g

Provenance: Spink 2023

This artefact is a bullet coin minted during the reign of King Rama IV of Thailand (Siam), which is a type of coin extensively used throughout the history of Thailand and its predecessor kingdoms. It holds a face value of 1/4 Baht and is crafted from gold.

This bullet coin bears the royal emblem of King Rama IV and the symbol of the Buddhist wheel called Chakra as its religious marker.

Bullet coins, known as “Photduang” in Thai, are typically crafted from silver, with rare examples being made from gold, as is the case with this particular bullet coin. The bullet coin is characterised by its curved cylindrical shape, featuring specific stamp or markings on its surface. Each reigning monarch’s personal insignia differs.

The earliest usage of this type of currency can be traced back to the 13th to 15th centuries, persisting until the year AD 1904, when it was eventually replaced by flat coins. One theory suggests that this type of coin may have evolved from the Piloncitos coins of the Philippines, which were transmitted to Thailand and underwent subsequent modifications. Another theory proposes that the widespread use of bracelet-shaped currency in the Nan Chao Kingdom led to its introduction in Thailand, where its size was reduced and its shape compacted, gradually evolving into the bullet coin.

The use of bullet money had existed for over six centuries, ending during the reign of King Rama V of Siam (the fifth monarch of the Chakri Dynasty). At that time, the king believed that Siam should transition to using a standard flat currency, similar to other countries, aiming to facilitate the development of foreign trade and commerce, achieving greater internationalisation. Moreover, the production process of bullet money was carried out manually by skilled artisans, which was highly time-consuming and unable to meet the demands of economic expansion. Therefore, in AD 1904, the government issued an announcement mandating the discontinuation of the circulation of bullet money.

King Rama IV (Mongkut), born on October 18, AD 1804, in Bangkok, Thailand, passed away on October 15, AD 1868. He ruled Thailand from AD 1851 to AD 1868, during which he demonstrated enlightened leadership. As one of the 43 children of King Rama II, Phumiphon Adunyadet, upon his father’s demise in AD 1824, did not ascend to the throne but instead chose to enter the Buddhist monastic order.

King Rama IV exhibited a profound interest in Buddhism and became a erudite scholar. Serving as an abbot in a temple in Bangkok, he transformed it into a centre for intellectual exchange, drawing the attention of numerous Christian missionaries and Western scholars. He engaged in thorough studies of Western culture and science, actively advocating for reform and modernisation.

Following the death of King Rama III, Mongkut’s associates took charge of the succession process. Under his reign, Thailand signed a series of treaties with Western nations, thereby opening up foreign trade. King Rama IV’s diplomatic policies skillfully balanced relations with Britain and France, ensuring the survival of Thailand. His enlightened and tolerant approach proved successful in dealings with Western imperialists.

Furthermore, King Rama IV dedicated efforts to promote the circulation of gold coins during his reign, with the minting of no fewer than 19 distinct types of gold coins. Although it remains uncertain whether these coins were extensively utilised in daily transactions or reserved for specific ceremonies or religious occasions at the time, their existence and production underscored the monarch’s emphasis on and efforts towards currency system reform in Thailand. Through the dissemination and circulation of gold coins, King Rama IV aimed to stimulate trade activities, bolster the nation’s economic prowess, and reinforce domestic currency stability. Despite the challenges in determining their precise impact and usage, these gold coins remain significant testaments to Thailand’s history and culture, offering insights into the socio-economic landscape of the era.

物件編號: A133

年代: 公元 1851-1868 年

材質: 黃金

尺寸: 7.0 x 6.0 x 7.0 mm

重量: 3.85 g

來源: 斯賓克拍賣行 2023

此物件為泰國(暹羅)拉瑪四世期間所鑄造的子彈錢幣，是歷史上在泰國及其前身王國中廣泛使用的一種硬幣，面額為1/4泰銖，由黃金製成。

這枚子彈錢上有屬於拉瑪四世的皇家記號，以及象徵佛教的脈輪圖樣作為其宗教標記。

子彈錢，泰文中稱為“Photduang”，這些硬幣通常以銀製成，而在罕見的情況下，也有金製的例子，此枚子彈錢即屬於較罕見的金製物件。子彈錢的外型呈圓形彎曲的條狀，上面刻有特定的印記，每位在位君主的個人標記各異。

這種貨幣最早的使用可以追溯到公元13世紀至15世紀，並一直延續至公元1904年。之後，它被扁平硬幣所取代。有一種說法認為這種錢幣可能是由菲律賓的Piloncitos錢幣流傳到泰國後演變而來。另外還有一種說法指出，南詔王國廣泛使用的手鐲狀貨幣傳入泰國後，將其尺寸縮小並壓密形狀，逐漸演變而成。

子彈錢的使用長達六個世紀，在國王拉瑪五世(暹羅扎克里王朝第五代君主)統治時期結束。當時，國王認為暹羅應該轉而使用與其他國家相同的標準扁平幣，以促進對外貿易和商業的發展，實現更加國際化。此外，子彈錢的製作過程由熟練的工匠手工完成，非常耗時，無法滿足經濟擴張的需求。因此，在公元1904年，政府發布公告要求停止流通子彈錢。

拉瑪四世，於公元1804年10月18日出生於曼谷，去世於公元1868年10月15日。他在公元1851年至1868年期間統治泰國，是一位開明的國王。作為拉瑪二世的43個孩子之一，拉瑪四世在公元1824年父親去世後未能繼承王位，而是選擇了出家成為佛教僧侶。 

拉瑪四世對佛教有濃厚的興趣，並成為一位博學的學者。他在一個曼谷寺廟擔任住持，將其打造成智慧交流的中心，吸引了不少基督教傳教士和西方學者。他對西方文化和科學有深入的研究，並積極推動改革和現代化。 

當拉瑪三世去世後，他的朋友們領導了他登基的事宜。在他的統治下，泰國與西方國家簽署了一系列條約，開放了對外貿易。拉瑪四世的外交政策巧妙地平衡了英國和法國，確保了泰國的生存。他的開明和寬容在與西方帝國主義者打交道時取得了成功。 

此外，拉瑪四世致力於促進金幣流通，在他統治期間，鑄造了不少於19種不同的金幣，儘管無法確定這些金幣是否在當時被廣泛用於日常生活，或是特定儀式、宗教場合，然而，這些金幣的存在和鑄造反映了當時泰國國王對貨幣體系的重視和改革努力。透過金幣的推廣和流通，拉瑪四世希望促進貿易活動，增強國家的經濟實力，以及加強國內的貨幣穩定性。儘管其具體影響和使用情況難以確定，但這些金幣仍然是泰國歷史和文化的重要見證，為我們提供了對當時時代背景和經濟活動的一瞥。