Medals: The 700th Anniversary of Thai Alphabet

This article presents the significance of the invention of the Thai script by King Ramkhamhaeng the Great in 1826 B.E. (A.D. 1283), which laid the foundation of Thai cultural identity and civilization. The 700th anniversary was commemorated in 1983 (2526 B.E.) by the issuance of commemorative coins by the Treasury Department of Thailand. These coins, including gold, silver, nickel and copper issues, were designed to honor the monarch and highlight the enduring value of the Thai script. The Ramkhamhaeng Inscription was inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2003 and the Memory of Thailand Register in 2015. Today, it is preserved at the Bangkok National Museum. This article underscores the linguistic, historical and cultural heritage significance of the Thai script and its role in national identity and heritage conservation.