Throne Hall on Thai Banknotes
The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall is not just a symbol of Thailand’s architectural grandeur but also a significant icon of the country’s political history and cultural heritage. Situated in the heart of Bangkok, this majestic Renaissance-style building has been the backdrop to some of Thailand’s most pivotal moments, including the transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy. Over the decades, the image of the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall has been immortalized on various Thai banknotes, reflecting its importance in the nation’s identity and its enduring legacy in the country’s collective consciousness.
The Throne Hall Pre-1932
The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, which can be translated to mean "the place where the endless assembly takes place," stands as a testament to a transformative era in Thai history. Prominently situated within the Dusit Palace complex in Bangkok, the hall was commissioned by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and represents the powerful influence of European architecture during his reign. The construction, which began in 1907 and concluded in 1915 under the guidance of Italian architects, Mario Tamagno and Annibale Rigotti, with engineering work by Carlo Allegri and G.E. Gollo, epitomizes the grandeur of the Italian neo-Renaissance style.
This architectural marvel was conceived as a venue for royal ceremonies and state functions, playing a critical role in the consolidation of the Chakri dynasty's prestige. The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, with its intricate marble façade and opulent interiors, showcases the seamless blend of traditional Thai aesthetic with Western architectural elements, reflecting King Chulalongkorn's vision for modernization and international diplomacy. The hall's detailed murals and exquisite sculptures narrate pivotal episodes from Thai history, infusing each event with a sense of timeless grandeur.
The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall symbolizes this epoch – a time when Siam was strategically positioning itself as a sovereign and progressive state, intent on preserving its independence. The hall's importance was a political and cultural nucleus where pivotal decisions and high-profile events transpired. The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall thus stands as a remarkable emblem of a bygone era, encapsulating the rich tapestry of Thai history and the evolution of its monarchy before the Siamese Revolution of 1932, which fundamentally altered the political landscape of the nation.
The Throne Hall & the Siamese Revolution of 1932
The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, an architectural masterpiece in Bangkok, transcends its role as merely a royal residence, encapsulating significant chapters in Thailand's modern history. Amid these defining moments, the Siamese Revolution of 1932 stands out, marking the initial transition of Thailand from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. During this transformative period, the Throne Hall emerged as a strategic epicenter of political activity, reflecting the tides of change sweeping through Thai society.
The Revolution of 1932 was orchestrated by the Khana Ratsadon or the People's Party, a group of civilian and military personnel who sought to curtail the autocratic rule of King Prajadhipok (Rama VII). As the revolution unfolded on 24 June 1932, the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall was used as a command center by the revolutionaries. Its choice was not incidental; the hall’s grandeur and central location symbolized royal authority and governance. By occupying it, the People's Party made a powerful, visual statement of their intent to restructure the nation’s political framework.
Post-revolution, transitioned from a royal reception hall to the heart of the nation’s new constitutional government. On 28 June 1932, four days after the revolution, the country’s first parliament, the National People's Assembly of Siam, convened for the first time in the Hall. The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall served as the seat of the legislative branch of the government until 1974 when the new Parliament House was inaugurated. With the relocation of the parliament, the Hall was returned to the royal court and resumed its role as a part of the Dusit Palace complex.
Thus, for several decades, the Throne Hall became both the backdrop and the battleground where the old and new orders collided. As the dramatized epicenter of the revolution, it attracted national and international attention, marking a clear pivot from the old system of governance. The use of the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall by revolutionaries underscored a significant socio-political signal: the dawn of a new era where the people would gain more influence over the state's affairs. The use was not limited to its physical use but the Hall was also used on banknotes of Siam and Thailand.
The Throne Hall as an Obverse Design
King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) ascended the throne on 26 November 1925, with his coronation held on 25 February 1926. At that time, the banknotes of Siam did not feature the King's portrait. However, in 1928, with royal permission, the Ministry of Royal Finance, which later became the Ministry of Finance in 1933, decided to issue a new series of banknotes featuring the King's portrait. This decision was based on proposals and designs by Thomas de la Rue, a prominent British security printing company. The result was Series 3 of Siam Banknotes, which were ordered before the Siamese Revolution of 1932. These banknotes marked a significant shift in Siam's monetary history, as they were the first to feature the portrait of a reigning monarch.
While the Series 3 banknotes were being printed but not yet released, the Siamese Revolution led by Khana Ratsadon, or the People's Party, took place on 24 June 1932. This revolution brought about a dramatic shift in the country's governance, transitioning Siam from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. Despite the political upheaval, the Series 3 banknotes featuring the portrait of King Rama VII on the obverse design were introduced into circulation in 1934. Interestingly, archival photographs reveal that there were records of a 1 Baht banknote dated 20 November 1934 and a 100 Baht banknote dated 1 February 1933, with a significant design note dated 3 May 1935, showing the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall in place of King Rama VII’s portrait.
After King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) abdicated on 2 March 1935 (Buddhist Era 2477), the same day, the National Assembly of Siam elected Prince Ananda Mahidol to succeed his uncle. As a result, the monarch's portrait on Type 2 of Series 3 banknotes was changed to the portrait of King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII) and was released into circulation in 1936. As the archival records were dated 3 May 1935, the unadopted designs were likely prepared after Rama VII's abdication.
Although the designs featuring the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall on the obverse were ultimately not adopted, they serve as important historical records that highlight early attempts to feature the Hall on the obverse design of Siamese banknotes as early as 1935. The significance of these archival records lies not in the dates themselves but in the insight they provide into the evolving iconography of Siam’s currency. The decision to consider the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall as a potential feature of the obverse design underscores the importance of this architectural landmark in the nation's identity, particularly in the wake of the constitutional changes following the 1932 revolution.
The Throne Hall as a Reverse Design
Although the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall was not featured on the obverse of Siam and Thai banknotes, the design based on archival records from 1935 did not go entirely unheeded. Instead, the portrait of King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII) was featured on the obverse design of the Series 3 Type 2 banknotes, which were introduced in 1936. Despite this, the ambition to incorporate the Throne Hall into the banknote design persisted, ultimately leading to its inclusion in the reverse design of the Series 4 banknotes. This series, printed by Thomas de la Rue and introduced in 1938, marked the first prominent appearance of the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall on Thai currency.
The reverse design of the Series 4 banknotes features the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall framed by a guilloche design, with Thai text below the image detailing the penalty for forging banknotes. This marked a significant milestone, as it was the first time the Throne Hall was prominently featured on the nation’s currency. Furthermore, another crucial symbol of the 1932 Revolution, the constitution on a decorated tray with a pedestal (phan), was used as the watermark—an icon explored in detail in our article on the Constitution on Thai Banknotes. The architectural grandeur of the Throne Hall was thus immortalized on these banknotes, emphasizing its status as a national symbol and its association with the country’s constitutional history.
The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall continued to be featured on subsequent banknotes, underscoring its importance in the national identity. It appeared on the reverse of the Special Series 1 Baht banknote introduced in 1942 and on Series 4 banknotes printed by the Royal Thai Survey Department. The Hall was also depicted on the unissued 1 Dollar note prepared for use in the four Malay states of Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, and Terengganu in 1943, as well as on the overprinted 50 Baht notes. This consistent use of the Throne Hall in banknote design during this period highlights its symbolic significance in the post-revolutionary era.
The Throne Hall’s depiction continued through Series 6 banknotes, printed by the Royal Thai Survey Department and the Naval Hydrographic Department, and Series 7 banknotes, printed by various printers in Thailand. The last series to prominently feature the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall was Series 9, which included denominations of 1 Baht, 5 Baht, 10 Baht, 20 Baht, 100 Baht, and an unissued 1,000 Baht note. Although the watermark was changed in 1957 from the constitution on Phan to the portrait of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and the penalty text on the reverse was changed in 1958, the Throne Hall continued to be featured on the reverse design without any alterations.
The role of the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall on Thai banknotes began to evolve after Series 9. As the political landscape in Thailand shifted during the mid-1960s, new themes and designs were introduced, and the Throne Hall’s depiction on currency became less frequent. This change was notably reflected in the 100 Baht Series 10 banknote, introduced in 1968, which became the first series since 1938 not to feature the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall or the constitution on a decorated tray with a pedestal.
Despite the reduced prominence of the Throne Hall in subsequent banknote designs, it did not disappear entirely. The Throne Hall occasionally reappeared on specific banknotes, such as the 50 Baht Series 13 banknote introduced in 1985 and the 50 Baht polymer note introduced in 1996. In these instances, the Throne Hall was depicted behind the statue of King Rama VII. Additionally, a small image of the Throne Hall was included in the 1,000 Baht Commemorative Issue introduced in 2017, reaffirming its place in the visual lexicon of Thai banknotes, albeit in a less central role than in earlier decades.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall's presence on Thai banknotes has served as a powerful emblem of the nation's cultural and political heritage. Its depiction across various series of banknotes over several decades underscores the building's symbolic significance, not only as an architectural masterpiece but also as a representation of Thailand's journey from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. The Throne Hall's portrayal on currency has mirrored the evolving political landscape of the country, with its prominence on banknotes reflecting periods of national pride and identity.