About Commemorative Medal for the Royal Ceremony of the Conferral of the Golden Plate (Suphanna Bat) on Prince Maha Vajiravudh, Reign of King Rama V
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
Commemorative medal for the royal ceremony of the conferral of the golden plate (Suphanna Bat), elevating Prince Maha Vajiravudh to the rank of Krom Khun Thep Thawarawadi, in 1888 (B.E. 2431), when he was 8 years old. In accordance with the royal regulations for sons of the King holding the rank of Chao Fa Tang Krom (princes of the highest rank with their own department), he was granted a sakdi na of 50,000 rai and held the second-highest honor, after Crown Prince Maha Vajirunhis, Crown Prince of Siam.
This medal is 37 mm in diameter. Many collectors call it the "single topknot medal, lion reverse" (เหรียญจุกเดี่ยว หลังสิงห์). The name of the die engraver is inscribed in English along the lower edge of the obverse. The specimen pictured here is in copper.
The image shows the name of the medal's die engraver (the producer), in tiny Roman letters along the lower edge of the obverse. Note also that counterfeits of this medal exist, made by copying a genuine original and producing fake dies with an EDM machine. The detail is therefore close to the genuine piece, but the lettering is usually not as sharp.
Design
- Obverse
- The royal portrait of Prince Maha Vajirunhis, Crown Prince of Siam, facing three-quarters left, dressed in the manner of a royal prince and wearing the Phra Kieo Yot Chulalongkorn (topknot crown). Around the rim is the royal title: "สมเด็จพระบรมโอรสาธิราช เจ้าฟ้ามหาวชิรุณหิศ อดิศรวรมหาจุฬาลงกรณ์บดินทรเทพวรางกูร บรมมกุฏนเรนทร์สูรย์ ขัตติยสันตติ อุกฤษพงษ์วโรโตสุชาติธัญญลักษณ์ วิลาศวิบูลย์ สวัสดิ์ศิริวัฒน์วิสุทธิ์ สยามมกุฎราชกุมาร" (the full royal title of the Crown Prince of Siam). Along the lower rim, in tiny Roman letters: "W.E.J.GAND".
- Reverse
- A model of the Phlaeng Song (ceremonial bathing platform). Along the upper rim is the inscription "ที่รฦกการพระราชพิธีลงสรง เฉลิมพระปรมาภิไธย" (In commemoration of the royal bathing ceremony and the conferral of the royal title). Along the lower rim is the inscription "ปีจออัฐศกศักราช ๑๒๔๘" (Year of the Dog, eighth year of the decade, Era 1248). Also along the lower rim, in tiny Roman letters: "W.KULLRICH F".
