Crowds collect special banknotes commemorating King Rama IX

BANGKOK, Sept 20 (TNA) – Huge crowds are exchanging money for newly issued banknotes to commemorate King Rama IX. Today the Bank of Thailand introduced the commemorative banknotes with denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 baht. People can seek them at commercial and state-run banks or withdraw such notes with 100, 500 and 1,000-baht denominations from ATMs nationwide. People formed long queues seeking the commemorative banknotes at the Bangkok Bank headquarters on Silom Road. The first person among the crowds arrived at 5.30am and the bank started to distribute the commemorative notes at 8.30am. For each person, Bangkok Bank prepared either up to ten sets of all commemorative notes worth 1,670 baht or up to ten individual notes. Most visitors said they were seeking ten sets of the special notes each for themselves and their relatives to remember the great king. Meanwhile, Siam Commercial Bank prepared sets of commemorative notes with sequential serial numbers. The commemorative notes will be circulated like other notes. Their reverse depicts the late King Rama IX’s profile, work and development projects. (TNA)