500 Baht THB Banknote (Standard Issue) 2001

500 Baht Baht / Tical (Issued 2001)

The 500 Baht note issued in 2001 draws on the deep reverence Thai society holds for its monarchy, presenting the reigning king as the living embodiment of national continuity and spiritual authority. At the time of issue, King Bhumibol Adulyadej — Rama IX — had reigned for over five decades and was regarded by the Thai people as a uniquely stabilising and beloved figure in the nation’s modern history. The reverse pays homage to an earlier chapter of Thai statehood, evoking the reforming reign of the nineteenth century and the architectural grandeur of Bangkok’s ceremonial heart. Together, the two sides of this note form a visual narrative of Thailand’s monarchy across centuries, linking past achievement with present sovereignty.

On the front, the dominant feature is a formal portrait of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX of Thailand, rendered in finely detailed intaglio engraving that gives his image a pronounced tactile quality. He is depicted wearing a dark military dress uniform adorned with medals and insignia, and is shown in a three-quarter pose facing slightly to his left, wearing glasses, with a composed and dignified expression. The portrait occupies the right-centre of the note against a pale background, framed by fine engraved linework. To the left of the portrait sits a small oval emblem featuring the royal Garuda device, printed in green. The upper left portion of the note carries Thai script text identifying the Bank of Thailand — the issuing authority — in two lines, with a further line of Thai script below denoting the denomination. The denomination numeral 500 appears prominently in the lower left in large stylised Thai numerals, and again in standard Arabic numerals at the upper right in green. The serial number, printed in red, reads 0 A 1320867 and appears in the lower right area, with a further serial reference in Thai numerals visible at the upper left. Two authorising signatures in black ink appear below the central text block. The left border of the note features an ornate vertical panel of deep blue and green guilloché patterning with floral and geometric motifs, providing visual security complexity. A vertical security thread is embedded within the paper to the left of the portrait, visible as a dark stripe. The overall colour palette of the front is dominated by purple-blue and grey tones, with green and pale cream accents, giving the note a cool, authoritative appearance.

The reverse presents a richly layered composition in warmer tones of pink, purple, and ochre. The central motif is a large engraved statue of a seated male figure — King Chulalongkorn, Rama V of Thailand — shown in three-quarter view, dressed in a formal coat, resting one hand on his knee and the other on a sword. The statue is rendered with considerable engraving detail and dominates the lower central portion of the design. Behind the statue to the left rises the architectural form of Phra Thinang Chakri Maha Prasat, the grand reception hall within the Grand Palace complex in Bangkok, its tiered Thai-style spires and classical European-influenced façade depicted in fine intaglio line work. To the far right of the composition, a tall-masted sailing vessel is visible in lighter, more subdued tones, evoking Thailand’s historical maritime connections. A small circular emblem featuring the royal crown device appears at the upper right. Thai script text appears in a column along the right side of the note, and further Thai script runs along the lower right portion. The denomination numerals 500 appear in large stylised Thai script at the lower left of the reverse, echoing the front design. The overall reverse palette moves from pale pink at the borders through violet and warm purple towards the centre, with the engraved elements rendered in deep blue-grey ink, creating a layered depth across the surface.

This 500 Baht banknote can be exchanged through Webuyallcurrency.com, where current Thai Baht banknotes are bought alongside other foreign currency — ideal for clearing a drawer of mixed coins and notes at once.

• Indicate the quantity of 500 Baht Baht / Tical banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

From leftover holiday money to inherited collections, Webuyallcurrency.com will exchange or buy your Thai Baht banknotes and other foreign currency, handling old and withdrawn pieces in the same simple process.