Thai baht

1 EUR = 44.598 THB 100 THB = 2.2423 EUR

1 CHF = 36.451 THB 100 THB = 2.7434 CHF

The baht ( Thai: บาท, IPA: [ bà ː t]) is the currency of Thailand. The baht is also a unit of weight for gold, which is used by goldsmiths and jewelers in Thailand.

History

The large library of Ayutthaya was destroyed by enemy action during the downfall of the kingdom in 1766. That is why hardly any records of earlier times also present, since when there was money coins in old Siam. The assumption that it might also notes might have been, because the contact with China had always maintained, could not yet be confirmed by finds.

The first coins were called Tical (pronounced Tikel ). The word comes from the Arabic thaqal, which is related with the name of the Hebrew shekel and used in Bangladesh currency Taka ( lit. coin or money). Latest from the mid-14th century in the old Siam, the currency unit Tical in use; by the Siamese called in earlier times Bat. The Tical was originally a silver coin of 15 grams of weight, which occurred at different times in different forms. Some pieces had the form of a gun cartridge, others looked like little bars, some as narrow elongated diamonds, and others were more or less round.

The Tical was divided into four Salueng (or Salyn ) what neighborhood means a Salueng in turn consisted of two Fueang (also fuang or Fyän ), both were silver coins. These were even smaller coins of copper in circulation, so the Song Pai (1/16 Tical ), Pai (1/32 Tical ), the at ( 1/64 Tical ) and the Solot ( 1/128 Tical ). Local manner Cowrie shells were traded as currency, with 1,200 shells had the value of a Fueang. For a time, were also small silver balls in use, counted by weight: the Pai.

The ticals were manufactured in the royal mints at. On the one hand, the Siamese crown, and on the other the mint mark was coined. Furthermore, in addition to 1 - Tical coins also were 2 - and 4- Tical coins produced, the largest coin weighed about sixty grams. However, this first ticals have not had a proper classic coin-shaped but were spherical, with a notch on one side and on the other side of the royal seal. The largest unit of currency was 80 Tical, which is said to have possessed a kilogram of weight.

This unusual form of coins was up around 1780 in use and it would have been even longer if not, took more and more influence the Chinese, who controlled more and more trade in money and gold trading. So there was the beginning of the 18th century, large-scale counterfeiting, with several million coins were produced by Chinese counterfeiters bands of lead with a thin silver layer. Until this scam noticed there was already a large part of the Thai currency reserves of lead. Some counterfeiters gangs were arrested and executed, but the damage was enormous.

The first modern coins

It was not until King Chulalongkorn ensured that Siam could produce coins in European form and bills introduced. Particularly impressed by the Prussian mints, he also led in his kingdom such a modern coinage. Thus Siam received coins with excellent embossing: on the one hand, the Siamese coat of arms with the three-headed elephant and on the other side of the portrait of the king. Most of the silver coins were minted gold coins less. The people were excited about the new coins, and thus was also the danger has passed to get counterfeit money. Even now moved into the new ticals be identified by its silver sound.

The first banknotes

Originally Baht is the name of a traditional unit of weight (1 baht = 15.16 g), with the weight of gold and silver is still specified in the Thai market.

The first issued in Bangkok on May 21, 1889 banknotes of the Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation were designated Baht in Thai script, along with the English name Tical was played back. 1892 came to the printed in Germany by Giesecke & Devrient notes in Bangkok. They were provided as the output of the Thai Treasury, also they show in Thai only the word " Baht ", out of consideration to the foreigner, you wrote but also in English " Tical ".

The first "real" Thai notes ( " Series 1 " ): their issue was announced on September 7, 1902, they were put into circulation from 19 September 1902. These notes contained in Thai only the word " Baht ", next to the English word " Tical ".

So it remained until 1925, when the " second Series "was released. She only had the Thai word " Baht ", the English name was missing. And so it remained until today.

Today's currency of Thailand

A baht ( Thai: บาท ) is divided into 100 satang ( Thai: สตางค์ ); 25 satang are a Salueng ( สลึง ).

There are coins of 1, 2, 5 and 10 baht. In addition, there are coins of 25 and 50 satang, but which are common only in larger supermarkets ( the coins of 1, 5 and 10 satang are no longer in circulation ). Banknotes are issued in value of 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 baht (10 baht notes are no longer in use ).

The backs of the coins show significant temple ( wat ) in Thailand:

• 25 - satang coin ( 1 Salueng ): Wat Phra Mahathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat Woramaha viharn
• 50 - satang coin ( 2 Salueng ): Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai
• 1- baht coin: Wat Phra Kaeo in Bangkok
• 2- Baht coin: Wat Phu Khao Thong in Bangkok
• 5 - baht coin: Wat Benchamabophit in Bangkok
• 10 - baht coin: Wat Arun in Bangkok

The backs of the current bills ( other than these are also older in circulation) show:

• 20 - baht bill (since 2003 ): King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII ) and the modern Rama VIII Bridge in Bangkok
• 50 - baht bill (since 2004 ): King Mongkut (Rama IV ) with globe and telescope; also a small picture of the Phra Pathom Chedi in Nakhon Pathom. For a limited time, the 50 - baht note was produced as a plastic bill of polymer film. She is wearing a transparent window with the portrait of the king as a watermark.
• 100 baht bill (since 2004 ): King Chulalongkorn ( Rama V ) and a scene concerning the abolition of slavery
• 500 baht bill (since 2001): Statue of King Nang Klao (Rama III. ) In front of Wat Ratchanaddaram in Bangkok; also the small picture of a sailing ship
• 1,000 - baht bill (since 2005 ): King Bhumibol Adulyadej (. Rama IX) with his camera in front of the dam of " Pa Sak Dam Jolasid "

Fed is the Thai central bank.

Unit of weight

The baht is also a unit of weight for gold, which is used in Thailand by goldsmiths and jewelers. A baht corresponds 15.244 grams. Since the purity of Thai gold standard is 96.5 %, the actual gold content of a baht is 14.71046 grams, according 0.4729523 troy ounces. The weight of 15.244 grams goes for gold in bullion, jewelry at a baht should be more than 15.16 grams.