Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Thai banknotes and their signatures 04a - Siam Government

The 4th era of Thai signatures, are the ones issued under the rule of King Ananda Madihol, or Rama VIII.
Rama VIII came to rule after the abdication of his uncle, Rama VII.
By the end of his reign, King Rama VII was no longer the absolute monarch of Thailand/Siam.
Therefore, he could not appoint his successor himself.
As the prince Chula Chakrabongse already was excluded from the throne (see: https://rainbowstampsandcoins.blogspot.com/2024/09/thai-banknotes-and-their-signatures-03.html),
the first in line became another son of King Rama V, with his 7th wife.
Mahidol Adulyadej, 69th child of King Rama (yes),

Prince Mahidol Adulyadej
The prince could not make it to the throne, for the simple reason that he already deceased by then.
As the new successor to the throne, now was appointed by the government, the eldest son of the prince, was appointed to be the new king. The boy however was only 9 years old at that time, and lived in Switzerland. It was convenient (or not?) for the new government, to have such a young king on the throne, who had never ever been in Thailand/Siam. At the age of 13, the young prince visited Thailand for the first time,

He returned to Switzerland, to finish his studies, and returned to his kingdom after the second world war, in December 1945. Right away, he became the people's favourite.
An unfortunate accident (?), ended the boy's life even before he was officially installed as king.
It was his brother,  Phra Chaoyuhua Bhumibol Adulyadej
, King Rama IX, who granted him the royal title after his death, making King Ananda Madihol the 8th kind of the Chakri-dynasty.

King Ananda Madihol in 1946
Opposite to what you might think, during the 'reign' of Rama VIII, at least 14 different signature combinations can be found. All of the banknotes, bare the image of the young Rama VIII.

Under the 'Siam' government, two additional signature combinations can be found:
Here again, only a Minister of Finance signed.

Combination 15: BoT :  -                               

                            MRT : M04 Praya Chaiyasombat
                                        (Serm Krisnamara) [12 Feb 1936 - 19 Dec 1938]

Praya Chaiyasombat

Combination 16: BoT :  -                          
                            MRT : M05 Luang Pradidmanutham (noble title)
                                       (Mr. Preedee Panomyong) [20 Dec 1938 - 17 Dec 1941]

Mr. Preedee Panomyong was the man under whose influence, the government decided to hand the throne to the young Anana Madihol.
He was a powerful statesman, who had a hand in the transformation from Siam to Thailand, from the absolute monarchy to a quasi-democratic monarchy, ...
29 March 1934 – 12 February 1935 : Minister of Interior
12 July 1936 – 13 December 1938 : Minister of Foreign Affairs
20 December 1938 – 16 December 1941 : Minister of Finance
16 December 1941 – 5 December 1945 : Regent of Thailand - till the return of the King VIII
24 March 1946 – 23 August 1946 : Prime Minister and Minister of Finance - under King Rama IX

Mr. Preedee Panomyong
to be continued...


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