Luang Por Pring First Edition Amulet from Wat Vorachun
Rare first-edition amulets from revered Thai Buddhist abbots—including coins from Luang Por Pring cast in 1935 and Luang Por Klom created in 1927—are increasingly scarce and highly sought by collectors and devotees across the region.
A Dharma saying attributed to Luang Por Cha Subhadto of Wat Nong Pa Pong in Ubon Ratchathani introduces Luang Por Pring Wachirasuvanno, former abbot of Wat Vorachun in Suphan Buri's Pho Phra Ya subdistrict, a venerated teacher renowned throughout the region. All amulets created in his image enjoy popularity among serious devotees and collectors, especially the first-edition coins cast in 1935 at the request of villagers and disciples. These are copper coins with a rounded, arm-shaped design and integral loop, featuring a half-length portrait of Luang Por Pring on the obverse inscribed "Phra Kru Tham Sar Raksa (Pring)." The reverse bears a yantra in the center, with Thai numerals "2410" (his birth year) at the top and "2478" (the casting year) at the bottom. First editions are now becoming scarce. In 2008, Wat Ban Nong Daeng and its monastic community commissioned a statue of Luang Pu Nao Yaso Thoro, the temple's former abbot from Nong Kung subdistrict in Na Chueam, Maha Sarakham province, which was enshrined at the temple. At the same ceremony, commemorative coins bearing Luang Pu Nao's portrait were distributed to participants, marking a first-edition amulet in the round stupa style with a half-length portrait on the obverse. Below the loop appear the Five Buddhas formula "Namophuttaya," beneath which is inscribed "Luang Pu Nao Yaso Thoro." The reverse shows "First Edition" below the loop, with a central stupa containing relics flanked by text reading "In commemoration of the portrait ceremony" on the left and "Wat Ban Nong Daeng, Maha Sarakham" on the right—an increasingly popular amulet.
Another highly collected ancient Buddha coin is the "Buddha Tripitaka Nayok Pressed Coin" from Wat Phananchoeng in Ayutthaya, cast in copper with silver, gold, and blackened finishes. It features a raised border and secondary wire-impressed edge, with a central image of Buddha Tripitaka Nayok seated in the subduing-Mara gesture atop a base of sharp points, flanked by standing disciples Moggallana and Sariputta. Thai script at the top reads "Buddha Tripitaka Nayok." The reverse is plain but centered with a "Three-Fold Yantra" containing four Khmer syllables reading "I Sa Su I" (the abbreviated mantra of the Triple Gem), surrounded by curved Thai script reading "Wat Phananchoeng, Old City." Four Chinese characters appear below—another widely favored coin.
Luang Por Klom Nanthakamm, former abbot of Wat Pho Thavas in Surat Thani and a celebrated southern region teacher, created many sought-after amulets, but the rarest is the "first-edition cast portrait coin" made in 1927, cast at the temple kitchen and hence called the "Kitchen Edition." This ancient-style coin is ovoid with a horizontal loop, cast from mixed precious metals—silver and gold contributed by villagers melted together. The obverse depicts Luang Por Klom in full monastic robes seated in meditation with hands resting on knees, inscribed "Phra Kru Witthun" below, with "Tham" on the upper left and "Sasan" on the upper right. The bottom records the casting year "2470" in Buddhist Era, with a Khmer character border inside the rim. The reverse face continues...
