Catalog
1 Baht Series 2, type II 'Banknote'
| Issuer | Government of Siam |
|---|---|
| Year | 1927-1936 |
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| Size | 135 × 75 mm |
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| Obverse description | The obverse is printed in blue and yellow on a pale ground, with a central guilloche underprint radiating sunburst rays behind the Thai denomination panel 'หนึ่งบาท' set within a rectangular frame. To the upper left, a Garuda vignette is placed within an ornate border, while to the right an elephant pillar device appears; the serial number and issue date are printed in the lower left field. The heading 'รัฐบาล สยาม' (Government of Siam) appears at the top, with the legal tender clause and minister's manuscript signature below. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse is printed in blue and yellow, centred on an oval intaglio vignette of the Royal Ploughing Ceremony, showing oxen drawing a ceremonial plough accompanied by officials and flag-bearers, with a stupa visible in the background. The oval is set within elaborate guilloche scrollwork and ornamental corner pieces, with the Thai numeral '๑' at left and the Arabic numeral '1' at right indicating the denomination. The printer's imprint appears in small lettering along the lower margin. |
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| Comments |
The Series 2 1 Baht notes were issued under Royal Decree authority rather than through a central bank — Siam wouldn't establish the Bank of Thailand until 1942. Thomas De La Rue held the contract throughout this period, and the consistency of their intaglio work kept the notes difficult to counterfeit despite the relatively low face value.
The Type II designation within Series 2 reflects a signature change, not a redesign. Siam cycled through multiple Finance Ministry signatories during the late 1920s and 1930s, a period that included the 1932 constitutional revolution ending absolute monarchy — an upheaval that left the note's design untouched but changed the political authority behind the signatures printed on it.