Thursday, June 9, 2016

Thailand 70 Baht banknotes sold out

Thailand 70-Baht commemorative banknote to celebrate the Seventieth Anniversary Celebrations of His Majesty’s Accession to the Throne sold out hours after the sale began.

King Bhumibol

Thai people on Thursday queued up at the head offices of Thailand commercial banks, the Government Savings Bank, the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, the Government Housing Bank, and the Islamic Bank of Thailand to buy the Commemorative Bt70 banknote.

20 million of the special edition banknotes, each being sold for Bt100, sold out at many bank branches just hours after the sale began. The sale was limited to two banknotes per person.

A portion of the proceeds will be presented to His Majesty the King.

Some, like Prasert Ruengsilp collect all issues of special banknotes marking events in His Majesty's life, while others, like Chattraporn Pornkasem, had their first chance on Thursday.

"This was the first time I was able to get a banknote issued in celebration of His Majesty. I feel so proud and will keep it the best I can," she said after getting one at a Krungthai Bank branch in Muang district in Trat.

"I love my King and would like His Majesty to be with all Thais forever," she added.

Thailand people going out on the streets in yellow shirts. Yellow is the King's official colour. Many of the shirts were emblazoned with slogans reading: "We Love the King."

King Bhumibol, who is formally known as Rama IX of the Chakri dynasty, ascended the throne on June 9, 1946, after his brother was found dead from a gunshot wound at a Bangkok palace - a death that the King would describe decades later in a BBC documentary as "very mysterious".

The portrait of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in full regalia holding the Sword of Victory, standing in front of the Phuttan Kanchanasinghat Throne inside the Paisan Taksin Hall is illustrated on the reverse of the banknote.

His Majesty's 70-year reign makes him the world's longest serving monarch.