Revered Northeast Monks' Amulets Attract Collectors Across Thailand
Buddhist amulet collectors across Thailand are pursuing rare commemorative coins from revered northeast monks, with pieces from the 1990s-2000s commanding growing value among devotees and collectors.
Buddhist amulet collectors throughout Thailand are pursuing rare commemorative coins from respected northeast monks. Luang Pu Bua Phan Pannawaro of Wan Khwan Muang Rabue Tham Temple in Borabue District, Maha Sarakham, was a renowned regional teacher whose amulets remain scarce. The most popular issue was created in 1996 during his ordination as Phra Kru Pathum Vorn Kij, commemorating his 65th birthday celebration. The oval-shaped copper coins feature a half-length portrait of Luang Pu Bua Phan on the obverse, with the temple name curved around the reverse and a "Namo Buddhaya" yantra in the center, dated 1996 in Buddhist calendar year, and remain affordably priced. Luang Pu Kahlang Techavanno of Khao Liam Temple in Wang Somboon District, Sa Kaeo, produced amulets from 1957 to 2008 across more than ten issues, with the highly sought "Khing Amphoe Wangsomboon" coins created in 1998 for the district's elevation ceremony proving particularly valuable. The oval coins, blessed by Luang Pu Kahlang himself, bear his half-length seated image in full meditation posture on the obverse with Khmer script, and a garuda with wings spread on the reverse above a water-drop yantra. In 2017, Luang Pu Tuan Pussawaro of Wat Jan Khunaram in Kaeng Hang Maew District, Chanthaburi, commissioned "Locket Sarapan Dee" first edition lockets to raise funds for temple restoration. The oval lockets contained blessed cloth, Buddhist powder, and a sacred cord belonging to Luang Pu Tuan, with temple stamps and Thai ordination numbers. Following Luang Pu Tuan's sudden death in a vehicle accident in late 2018, these amulets gained significant collector value. Luang Pu Tua Achaldhamma, former abbot of Wat Pa Aranyawiwek in Sri Songkhram District, Nakhon Phanom, was honored by his student Luang Pu Kham Phan of Wat Sri Vichai with a museum completed in 2009 after 15 years of construction. The commemorative coins created for the museum opening feature Luang Pu Tua in full seated meditation posture wearing a begging bowl, cast in gold, silver, and copper, with the reverse displaying ornamental lotus petal designs and detailed temple and location inscriptions from 2009.
