Att

In numismatic terms, the term att refers to a historical Thai currency unit that played an important role in the monetary history of the Kingdom of Siam, now Thailand. The att was a fraction of a larger currency unit and was introduced into circulation in the 19th century to meet the growing demand for small denominations in everyday transactions. The introduction of these smaller units was part of comprehensive reforms in the Thai coinage system, which was increasingly based on the Western model but still strongly influenced by traditional regional factors.
The att was typically part of a monetary system in which the tical (also baht) was the central unit of account. In this system, one tical was equivalent to several salung, fuang and att, with the att being the smallest unit. Due to its low value, the att was mainly minted in copper, which made it accessible for everyday transactions. The coins were often simple in design, but depending on when they were minted, they bore symbols of the kingdom, such as the royal coat of arms or traditional characters.
From a numismatic point of view, the att is an interesting object today because it reflects Thailand’s economic development during a period of profound political and social upheaval. In the 19th century, the country modernised its financial system and increasingly opened up to international trade. The minting of coins such as the att in systematically standardised units was an important step towards the monetisation of the economy and the replacement of older forms of barter.
For collectors and historians, the att offers a fascinating insight into early Thai coinage, particularly the transition from traditional forms such as bullet coins to flat, round coins in the Western style. Although att coins are often heavily worn and rarely found in complete condition due to their low value, they are nevertheless highly sought-after objects in Southeast Asian numismatics. Early or rare coins with clear inscriptions or royal symbols can fetch considerable prices on the collectors’ market.