Medal - Wat Thammachak Reclining Buddha ND

Reverse

Buddhist Wheel with Mon/Khmer script, Thai script around border.

Scripts: Khmer, Thai

Lettering: ๒๕๔๙

Edge

Plain

Comment

Wat Thammachak Semaram is in Ban Khlong Khwang in Tambon Sema. The place used to be a religious site in the Dvaravati period. The important artefact here is a huge reclining Buddha image made of red sandstone that stretches from north to south. It is 13.30 metres long and 2.80 metres high. It dates from 657 AD. The head is south and faces east.

An original religious site of the Dvaravati period, Wat Thammachak Semaram keeps so many artefacts here starting from bronze Buddha statues, fire clays, glass beads, fire clay looms, including a stone inscription tables. These items are moved to the Phimai National Museum though. The highlight here is a huge reclining Buddha sandstone statue, which is aged for a thousand years. Built in 657 AD, the gigantic tatue is 13.30 meters long and 2.80 meters high. There is another ancient sandstone Buddhist symbol in the form of cartwheel as well.

https://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/wat-thammachak-semaram


Medal as sold in fitted case

RIAN (MEDAL IMAGES)
Rian images have existed since the past century and they might have been created after Thailand started the usage of the flat coin curreny. From the Sukhothai period to the early Bangkok period, Thailand was using bullet-shaped coins known as Pod Duang. In the 17th century, a Thai minister visited Singapore and reported to King Rama III on the usage of flat copper coins upon his return. The flat coin curreny was subsequently implemented in Thailand and in the mid 18th century the usage of Pod Duang 'coins' was officially fazed out. Medal image amulets might had been created following the implementation of flat coin curreny, one of the first Rian/medal image amulets, were created in C.E. 1897. There are many types and many names given to these images, there are many examples of popular types among collectors to this day.