Rare Oval Amulet Coin of Luang Pu Po Opens to Collectors

Luang Pu Po Thammisiri, the late abbot of Wat Ban Eiad (Wat Bodhi Sri Ban Eiad) in Khon Kaen's Maha Sarakham province, was a revered Buddhist elder of the old school whose reputation rivaled that of Luang Pu Sri Thammasathan of Wat Tai Kosoom and Luang Pu Sun Tikkhapanyo of Wat Ban Sua Goke. The amulet circle of Maha Sarakham produced many blessed objects from his lineage, all highly sought after. The first-edition oval portrait coin, cast in 2499 BE (1956), has been treasured for over 50 years and is said to have been spiritually empowered by Luang Pu Po himself. It was cast exclusively in fire-finished copper. The obverse features a half-length portrait with curved text along the rim reading "Ajarn Po Wat Bodhi Sri Ban Eiad." Because the portrait face resembles a Western person, amulet collectors call it the "foreign-face block"—placing it among Maha Sarakham's most prized rare coins. The reverse bears two rows of sacred syllables: the first reads "A U Ma Mi" and the second "Ma A U Mi," forming a heart mantra said to grant steadfastness and spiritual protection. Some coins show monk signature marks while others do not. According to teacher Promma, a 90-year-old retired instructor from Ban Eiad School, Luang Pu Po performed a solitary blessing ritual over the course of one Buddhist year. When the coins were first created, Luang Pu Po would sign each one personally and distribute them to devotees making merit. As word of the amulet's power spread, large numbers of people traveled daily to the temple to make offerings, but it became impossible to sign every coin on demand—which explains why some lack the signature mark. The exact number cast remains unknown, though estimates place it under 1,000 coins, a remarkably high production figure for that era. From the past to the present, the foreign-face block coin continues to command the highest regard among amulet enthusiasts.