Editing Thai baht (section)

==== Issue 6 – 1897 (transitional) ====
The old monetary system of Siam was based on a binary system that proved challenging for accounting purposes. This system initially consisted of three main units of currency: '''Chang''', '''Baht''', and '''Att'''. Under this system, there were 64 Att to 1 Baht and 80 
[[File:Administrative Division of Siamese Kingdom in 1900.jpg|thumb|Siam at the time of coin issue 6 (1897)]]
Baht to 1 Chang. Despite its widespread use, the system’s complexity made it difficult to manage and calculate.

Recognizing the inefficiencies, the Minister of Treasury proposed to King Rama V that Siam’s currency system should be decimalized. The proposal aimed to modernize the monetary system and align it with the decimal systems increasingly adopted by other countries at the time. King Rama V approved the transition to a decimal-based currency, which simplified accounting processes.

The transition to a decimal currency system faced numerous challenges even before the new coins were issued. Notably, the word "Anachak" (อาณาจักร) was initially misspelled as "อานาจักร," causing controversy. King Rama V intervened, insisting that the most accurate phrasing should be "Siam Ratcha-Anachak" (สยามราชอาณาจักร; Kingdom of Siam).

Despite the initial enthusiasm for the decimal system, the new coins struggled to gain popularity among the public. Many people were unfamiliar with the decimal system and preferred the traditional currency. Consequently, the new coins quickly faded from circulation, forcing the government to continue producing coins under the old system.

The production of coins from the old system persisted until '''RS 127 / BE 2451 / AD 1907'''. Ultimately, both pre-decimal coins and the early decimal coins were demonetized on '''May 17, RS 128 / BE 2452 / AD 1909'''. Citizens were given a grace period to exchange the demonetized coins for the new decimal currency, with the deadline set for '''May 16, RS 128 / BE 2452 / AD 1910'''.

This gradual shift is shown in the fact that coins after the transition often switched between three calendar systems, the CS (Chulasakarat) system, the RS (Rattanakosin Sok) system, the BE (Buddhist Era / Phutthasakarat) system.<ref>2½ Satang - Rama V, Thailand. Numista.com. Published 2025. Accessed January 3, 2025. <nowiki>https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces27448.html</nowiki>

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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align: center"
! colspan="11" |Issue 6 coins (Rama V) [''The Siam Anachak Series'']<ref name=":1" />
|-
! colspan="2" |Image
! colspan="2" |Value
! rowspan="2" |Dimensions<br>(mm)
! rowspan="2" |Weight<br>(g)
! rowspan="2" |Mintage
! rowspan="2" |Composition
! colspan="2" |Inscription, description
! rowspan="2" |Date of issue
|-
!Obverse
!Reverse
!Name
!Coinage value
!Obverse
!Reverse
|-
|[[File:1897 2.5 Satang O.png|frameless|150x150px]]
|[[File:1897 2.5 Satang R.png|frameless|150x150px]]
|2.5 satang
|0.025 baht
|16 × 1.0
|2.06
|'''3.12 million'''
|Cupronickel
|'''[[Airavata|Erawan (Airavata) Portrait in Wreath]]'''
+

สยามอานาจักร<br>''(Kingdom of Siam)''<br>ศก๑๑๖ ''(RS 116)''
|สองสตางค์ครึ่ง<br>''(two and a half satang)''<br>๒ ''(2)'' ๑/๒ ''(1/2)''
|1897
|-
|[[File:1897 5 Satang O.png|frameless|150x150px]]
|[[File:1897 5 Satang R.png|frameless|150x150px]]
|5 satang
|0.05 baht
|20 × 1.0
|3.02
|'''3.81 million'''
|Cupronickel
|'''[[Airavata|Erawan (Airavata) Portrait in Wreath]]'''
+

สยามอานาจักร<br>''(Kingdom of Siam)''<br>ศก๑๑๖ ''(RS 116)''
|ห้าสตางค์<br>''(five satang)''<br>๕ ''(5)''
|1897
|-
|[[File:1897 10 Satang O.png|frameless|150x150px]]
|[[File:1897 10 Satang R.png|frameless|150x150px]]
|10 satang
|0.10 baht
|22 × 1.0
|4.00
|'''5.08 million'''
|Cupronickel
|'''[[Airavata|Erawan (Airavata) Portrait in Wreath]]'''
+

สยามอานาจักร<br>''(Kingdom of Siam)''<br>ศก๑๑๖ ''(RS 116)''
|สิบสตางค์<br>''(ten satang)''<br>๑๐ ''(10)''
|1897
|-
|[[File:1897 20 Satang O.png|frameless|150x150px]]
|[[File:1897 20 Satang R.png|frameless|150x150px]]
|20 satang
|0.20 baht
|25 × 1.5
|6.57
|'''5.08 million'''
|Cupronickel
|'''[[Airavata|Erawan (Airavata) Portrait in Wreath]]'''
+

สยามอานาจักร<br>''(Kingdom of Siam)''<br>ศก๑๑๖ ''(RS 116)''
|ยี่สิบสตางค์<br>''(twenty satang)''<br>๒๐ ''(20)''
|1897
|}