Bank of Thailand Museum

Bank of Thailand Museum is a museum in Bangkok, Thailand. The museum is housed in the Bang Khun Prom Palace, the former residence of HRH Prince Paribatra Sukhumbhand, who was the the 33th son of King Chulalongkorn.

History

The building was constructed in 1901 and completed in 1906 by Italian architect, Mario Tamagno and has 14 rooms overlooking the Chao Phraya River and Rama VIII Bridge. cite web|url=http://www.tour-bangkok-legacies.com/bank-of-thailand-museum.html|title=The Bank of Thailand Museum a millennium of financial history|publisher=Tour Bangkok Legacies|accessdate=September 2|accessyear=2008]

The second building, known as the "Somdej" was built in 1913 by German architect Karl Dohring for the prince's mother H.M. Queen Sukhumala Marasri. In 1945 the palace became the office of the central Bank of Thailand until 1992 when it was restored and converted to a museum. King Bhumipol Adulyadej officially opened the Bank of Thailand Museum on 9 January 1993.

Displays

The museum has 14 rooms many of which display the history of Thai currency and the Bank of Thailand. The age range of the coins differs greatly and there are many ancient Thai coins found at excavation sites such as Funan coins (1st – 7th centuries), Sri Vijaya coins (8th – 13th centuries), Sukhothai period, (13th – 14th centuries), to the 14th – 19th centuries, from the Lanna Kingdom in the northern Thailand.

The museum displays bank notes dating back to the reign of King Rama IV in 1853 and documenting the late 1850s, when Queen Victoria of Great Britain gave Thailand the gift of a minting machine and the minting of Thai coins followed in 1858.

In the royal reception room, there are also portraits and photographs surround by lavish furnishing commemorating the visit by Queen Elizabeth IIand Prince Phillip in 1996.

On 28 December 2006, Bang Khun Prom Palace celebrated its centenary. and a traidaiotnal Thai performance was conducted in celebration.

References