1 Salueng - Rama V

The salueng is one-quarter of a baht, and this 1869 issue falls within the earliest period of Western-style coinage in Siam — a deliberate modernization drive under Rama V, who had ascended the throne just two years prior at age fifteen. The shift from the traditional bullet coinage (pod duang) that had circulated for centuries was as much a diplomatic signal to European colonial powers as it was a monetary reform. Siam was acutely aware that appearing "civilized" by Western standards offered some insulation against annexation.

The Royal Siamese Mint was established with British technical assistance, and early dies for this period show inconsistencies consistent with a facility still developing its production standards.