About Commemorative Medal: The Fifth Reign Equal to the Fourth Reign
Compiled from partner sources; under review and editing by our team.
Translated from Thai by AI and not yet reviewed by our team. Names and royal titles may need correction.
History
His Majesty King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) commissioned the commemorative medal "The Fifth Reign Equal to the Fourth Reign, Chula Sakarat 1247" on the occasion of his seventeenth year on the throne (between 1868 (B.E. 2411) and 1885 (B.E. 2428)), a length of reign equal to that of King Mongkut (Rama IV) (between 1851 (B.E. 2394) and 1868 (B.E. 2411)), amounting to 6,372 days as of 2 April 1886 (B.E. 2429) (in the current calendar).
The medal shown here is a shallow strike and has seen circulation or use. Nevertheless, this medal is considered rather harder to find than other medals of the "Equal Reign" (Samoe) type.
Design
- Obverse
- At the center of the shield is a three-headed elephant, flanked on both sides by sprays of Phutthaphrak (canna) flowers. Above is the Phra Unhit (royal crown), within which an Unalom (sacred symbol) rests above the shield. The inscription around the rim reads "ที่รฤกรัชกาลที่ ๕ เสมอด้วยรัชกาลที่ ๔" (in memory of the Fifth Reign being equal to the Fourth Reign), and the inscription below reads "จุลศักราช ๑๒๔๗" (Chula Sakarat 1247).
- Reverse
- At the center are two shields. The left shield bears the emblem of the Chulamongkut (Chula Mongkut crown) on a two-tiered stand; the right shield bears the emblem of the Phra Maha Mongkut (Great Crown) on a stand of the same kind. The Phra Maha Sangwan Nopparat Ratchawaraphon (the Order of the Nine Gems chain) and a surrounding wreath of Chaiyaphruek (cassia) leaves are also shown. A sword (Phra Khan) and a staff (Thanphra Kon) are crossed, with the Phra Unhit (royal crown) above.
