New Coins Honor Late Venerable Dhammachedee
Thailand has issued commemorative coins honoring Venerable Dhammachedee, a revered 19th-century Buddhist monk from Udon Thani who passed away in 1961 after 55 years of monastic practice. The bronze amulet coins feature his portrait on one s
Venerable Dhammachedee, formerly known as Phra Zoom Phanthulo, was a senior Buddhist monk greatly revered by the people of Udon Thani. He was a principal disciple of the renowned meditation master Luang Poo Chan Khemiko and served as ordination preceptor to several celebrated teachers, including Phra Ajarn Farn Acharo, Luang Poo Khao Analayo, Luang Poo On Yanasiri, and Luang Ta Maha Boowa Yanasampanno.
Born Zoom Chantrawong on Thursday, April 24, 1874, in Tha Uten village, Nakhon Phanom province, he was ordained at age 20 on March 9, 1891, at Wat Mahajai in Nong Bua Lam Phu district, Udon Thani, with Phra Kru Saeng Thammatho as his ordination preceptor. He then studied Buddhist teachings and monastic discipline under Phra Ajarn Sao and Phra Ajarn Man at Wat Leb forest monastery in Ubon Ratchathani province.
Venerable Dhammachedee passed away peacefully on July 11, 1961, at Siriraj Hospital at the age of 74 with 55 years of monastic life. In 1961, his disciples commissioned the creation of amulet coins to distribute to those making merit in his honor.
The coins feature a leaf-shaped design with a loop attachment, made of darkened bronze metal. The obverse displays the monk's portrait facing forward with his name "(Zoom) Chantrawong" inscribed below. The reverse features a seated Buddha image in meditation posture within a flame-shaped arch, with Dharmic script inscriptions on both sides. The second edition coins are nearly identical to the first, though observers may notice the Buddha image on the reverse is more sharply defined compared to the first edition.
