2 1/2 Baht 'Paddueng' - Rama IV

Rama IV — known in the West largely through the fictional distortions of *The King and I* — was in practice a rigorous modernizer who had spent 27 years as a Buddhist monk studying Western science before ascending the throne in 1851. The Paddueng denomination was part of his systematic overhaul of Siamese coinage, replacing the ancient bullet-money tradition with struck Western-style coins capable of functioning in international trade, particularly with British colonial merchants pressing in from Burma and Malaya.

The Royal Siamese Mint was established with equipment sourced from Birmingham. Surviving examples in collectible condition are scarce; the small striking diameter and soft .997 fineness left the pieces vulnerable to contact marks from the moment of issue.