Ratchamongkol Royal Ceremony Medal

History

Abbreviated "Ro. Ro. Mo." (ร.ร.ม.). A royal decoration medal bestowed as a commemorative keepsake. King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) graciously commanded that this medal be created in R.S. 126 (1907, B.E. 2450) on the occasion of the fortieth year of his accession to the throne, equaling King Ramathibodi II of Ayutthaya, whose reign was the longest of any Thai monarch recorded in the royal chronicles. The "Ratchamongkol Medal Act, Rattanakosin Era 126" was enacted to take effect from 30 November B.E. 2450 (1907), for bestowal upon members of the royal family and upon those who attended the royal audience at the Ratchamongkol royal merit-making ceremony of Rattanakosin Era 126 (B.E. 2450, 1907), on that single occasion only. Who was worthy of receiving which type was left to the King's gracious decision. A passage of the "Ratchamongkol Medal Act, Rattanakosin Era 126" states: "…(King Chulalongkorn) has issued a royal command, uttered above the heads of all, that from the time he ascended the throne in the Year of the Dragon, Samritthi-sok, Chula Sakarat (C.S.) 1230, counting the years through to this Rattanakosin Era 126, the years of his reign have reached forty, equal to the reign of King Ramathibodi II, who ruled the kingdom at Ayutthaya and whose reign was longer than that of any other king recorded in the royal chronicles. This has brought His Majesty joy and delight, and he therefore intends to perform royal merit-making at Ayutthaya, dedicating a share of the royal merit to that King Ramathibodi, having matched his reign in length, which is difficult to equal. It is regarded as the most excellent Ratchamongkol royal merit, and it is fitting that there be something to commemorate the glorious power and virtue of the King to endure for a long time; His Majesty has therefore graciously decreed that a commemorative medal be made."

Obverse: a figure of Phra Khrut Phah (Garuda as the mount of Vishnu), with the Chula Mongkut (small crown) superimposed on its chest.

Reverse: the inscription "ที่รฦกรัชกาลที่ ๕ กรุงรัตนโกสิมทร เสมอรัชกาลสมเด็จพระรามาธิบดีที่ ๒ กรุงศรีอยุธยา ร.ศ. ๑๒๖" (In commemoration of the Fifth Reign, Rattanakosin, equaling the reign of King Ramathibodi II of Ayutthaya, R.S. 126). The medal has a loop through which is threaded the ribbon of the Order of the Nine Gems (Navaratna), namely a yellow ribbon with green edges, with red and blue stripes separating the yellow from the green edges. The ribbon is 3 centimeters wide and is worn on the left chest of the coat. For bestowal upon the women of the Inner Court, the ribbon is tied in the shape of a dragonfly and worn on the coat at the front of the left shoulder.

The Ratchamongkol Medal comes in three types: gold, gilt silver and silver. It was bestowed upon both men (the Outer Court) and women (the Inner Court). The medal is oval-round in shape.

Designer: Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong, Krom Phraya Narisara Nuwattiwong (Prince Naris). The medal is now obsolete and is no longer bestowed.