Rama IV 1 Baht

This 1 Baht coin from Rama IV's reign was Thailand's first venture into machine-struck currency, a leap from the old hand-hammered methods that had persisted for centuries.

Struck on planchets likely recycled from melted Spanish reales, it reflected the practical reuse of foreign silver in Siam's emerging mint. King Mongkut, ever the modernizer, oversaw production between 1853 and 1868, though exact mintage figures vanished in later archival mishaps. The design features a simple obverse with the king's initials and a reverse showing the royal seal, all in fine silver.

We don't know how many varieties exist; some specimens show die variations that numismatists debate endlessly. As for myths about their rarity, I've seen enough fakes to stay skeptical.