Hindu God Lord Ganesha Seated Commemorative Issue Thailand 10 Baht of King Rama VI Coin

Lord Ganesha Seated Commemorative Issue, Thailand, Period: 2011 CE (B.E. 2554), Denomination: 10 Baht, Composition: Bimetallic – Aluminium Bronze Centre in Copper-Nickel Ring, Weight: 8.5 grams, Diameter: 26 mm, Reference: Y# 508, About Very Fine (UNC), Scarce.

Obverse: Bust of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) facing left, with Thai inscription naming the king and identifying his reign as Rama VI.

Reverse: Seated Lord Ganesha surrounded by ornamental Thai design, with inscriptions commemorating the Centenary of the Fine Arts Department and denomination of 10 Baht.

Thailand has a long history of cultural interaction with India, through which Hindu-Brahmanical traditions, mythology and artistic forms reached Southeast Asia. Ganesha became an important figure within Thailand’s artistic heritage and continues to be respected alongside Buddhist traditions. The Thai Fine Arts Department adopted Ganesha as its official emblem in 1937, representing the deity as patron of arts, sciences, intellect and wisdom. Ancient Ganesha sculptures have also been discovered in Thailand, including a Lopburi example dating to around the 10th century. This 2011 commemorative coin therefore reflects Thailand’s historical Indian cultural connections and the enduring importance of Ganesha in Thai art.

Coinage Note: Issued in B.E. 2554 (2011 CE) to commemorate the Centenary of Thailand’s Fine Arts Department, this 10 Baht bimetallic coin features Lord Ganesha on its reverse. His presence represents the department’s connection with art, knowledge and cultural preservation. Ganesha became the department’s official emblem in 1937 and remains an important symbol of Thai artistic heritage.