The Bank of Thailand (BoT) will issue a new series of banknotes, its 16th series, next week after the current series has circulated in the market for more than 14 years, according to BoT Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul.

Mr Prasarn said that the new notes comprise five denominations -- Bt20, Bt50, Bt100, Bt500 and Bt1,000. Their size and colour remain unchanged from the present notes.

First launches will be the Bt50 banknote on January 18, the date commemorating the glorious victory of King Naresuan the Great in traditional royal combat on elephant back in 1593, he said.

The central bank has applied newest technology as a security feature for the Bt50 note to prevent counterfeiting which included the watermark which HM the King's portrait will be shown on the right side and a watermark of Thai numeral 50 is especially transparent.

The current Bt50 banknote and those previously issued would also be legal tender by law, he said. (MCOT online news)

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