1 baht 1955
Market Prices
32 salesAbout This Note
This 1955 Thai 1 Baht note (Pick P-74b) features a striking portrait of King Rama IX Bhumibol Adulyadej in Field Marshal's uniform on the obverse, paired with an ornate Thai temple complex illustration. The reverse displays a classical Western-style government building with columns and domed roof, reflecting Thailand's architectural heritage. In VF condition, the note exhibits expected circulation wear including creasing and foxing, yet retains strong visual appeal with fine engraving detail intact—a solid example of early Thai currency from the reign of King Bhumibol.
Common. Secondary market data from eBay shows consistent sales activity over multiple years at modest prices ($1.75–$14.50 for VF grades, with most transactions under $10), indicating ready availability in the collector market. No evidence of limited print runs, recalls, or restricted distribution. The P-74b variant appears across multiple PMG population reports alongside other variants (P-74d, P-74s), suggesting adequate surviving examples. Catalog value for VF grade is listed at $1, confirming common status.
Issued in 1955, during the early years of King Rama IX's reign (begun 1946), this note represents Thailand's post-World War II monetary consolidation. The imagery balances Thai cultural identity—represented by the prominent Phra Samut Chedi temple on the obverse—with institutional authority symbolized by the classical government building on the reverse. The English printer credit to Thomas de la Rue & Company reflects Thailand's reliance on British security printing expertise during this formative period of the modern Thai state.
The obverse features a left-aligned portrait of King Bhumibol Adulyadej wearing Field Marshal's dress uniform with visible shoulder insignia and military decorations, rendered in blue-gray and black tones with cream underprint. The center showcases an ornate Thai cartouche with floral patterns in pink/purple security tinting, containing Thai denomination text. Below is an detailed architectural illustration of Phra Samut Chedi temple complex, characterized by multiple pointed spires typical of Thai Buddhist architecture, framed by intricate guilloche border patterns. The reverse displays a neoclassical domed capitol-style building with columned portico, flanked by decorative palm fronds in the upper corners. A large circular watermark area occupies the left side. Both sides feature fine-line engraving throughout with geometric scrollwork in the decorative borders.
FRONT: 'ธนาคารไทย' (Bank of Thailand) / 'หนึ่งบาท' (One Baht) / 'ผู้จัดการธนาคารแห่งประเทศไทย' (Governor of the Bank of Thailand) / Thai government finance legislation text / Serial number: 'R 3332765' / 'THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY LIMITED, LONDON' (printer attribution). BACK: 'THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY LIMITED, LONDON' (printer attribution) / Thai institutional and governance text regarding state administration and financial authority.
Intaglio engraving combined with color lithography, as indicated by the fine detail work, multiple color layers (blue, black, cream, pink security tints, yellow-green accents), and the visible guilloche patterns characteristic of security printing. Produced by Thomas de la Rue & Company Limited, London—the world's premier banknote security printer of the era—employing their proprietary multi-stage engraving and color registration methods.
This note is cataloged as Pick P-74b, indicating it is a variant of the base 1 Baht 1955 issue. Known varieties for this Pick base number include P-74d and P-74s, which may differ in printer, signatures, or serial number prefixes. The observed serial number prefix 'R' and printer attribution 'TDLR' (Thomas de la Rue) are consistent with the P-74b designation. No overprints or significant printing anomalies noted in the visual analysis that would indicate a rare sub-variety.
