RAYONG — The antique shop owner who made headlines last week by promising 100,000 baht for rare 10 baht coins has withdrawn his offer after accusations of inflating the price of the coins.

Punnawat Siriruengwanic, the owner of Panan Jewelry Shop, started a nationwide sensation last week when he offered to pay 100,000 for 10 baht coins minted in 1990. The coins, of which only 100 exist, are highly sought-after among antique collectors.

But Mr. Punnawat said yesterday that he could not stand the flood of accusations on Facebook that have branded him as an "extortionist."

"Now everyone in my family is stressed. My mother's migraine also got worse because she is so stressed about this," Mr. Punnawat said in an interview at his shop in Rayong province. "So I decided to withdraw the offer, as a present to my mom on National Mother's Day [12 August]."

Mr. Punnawat said he didn't mean to do any harm when he set the high price for the coins last week.

"I want people to understand me," Mr. Punnawat said, insisting the price was fair given the rarity of the coins.

Naris Chaisutra, director of the Royal Thai Mint, confirmed that only 100 10-baht coins were produced in the year 1990.

Ten baht coins were first produced in 1988, but were not widely used as 10-baht banknotes were still in circulation at the time. As a result, in 1990 the Royal Thai Mint decided not to produce any more 10 baht coins for public circulation that year, but did mint 100 coins as souvenirs for attendants at the 16th Mint Directors Conference (MDC) in the UK, Mr. Naris said.

"I will have to check whether we gave away all of the coins to the participants," Mr. Naris said. 

However, at least one of the rare coins has made it back to Thailand. Attanop Kaewpathumthip, architect and coin enthusiast, showed Khaosod his 1990-minted 10 baht coin yesterday.

Mr. Attanop said he first heard about the coins from an official who told him that the Royal Thai Mint director in 1990 requested a small batch of coins to be produced that year year, which immediately excited many coin collectors. 

He said he did not know whether the story was true, and that not many people outside coin-collecting circles knew about the rarity of the 1990 coins at the time.

"It was confined to a narrow circle, because coin collecting trade isn't big like amulet trade," Mr. Attanop said.

In 2000, Mr. Attanop found a 1990 coin at an antique shop and decided to buy it from the shop owner, reportedly for "hundreds of thousands of baht."

Mr. Attanop said he has not seen any of the rare coins since then, but heard a rumour that 30 such coins have made it back to Thailand. 

The architect added that he does not intend to sell the rare coin. He also said he does not personally know Mr. Punnawat, the owner of Panan Jewelry Store, but welcomed Mr. Punnawat's offer to buy the coins. 

"I think at least this incident helped raise interest in coin collecting for the public," Mr. Attanop said. "It makes them see that coins in their pockets can be worth a lot. It creates an interest in antiques among younger generations."

BANGKOK — A top doctor at Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital has told the public not to worry about His Majesty the King’s difficulty eating, insisting it is normal for a person of his advanced age.

The Royal Household Bureau said in a statement on 11 August that doctors have begun providing the 86-year-old monarch with nutrients through his blood stream after he experienced difficulty digesting food. 

The statement raised concerns about the health of King Bhumibol, who has been residing at Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital since 6 August, reportedly for an annual medical examination.

But Udom Kachinthorn, the director of Siriraj Hospital’s Faculty of Medicine, said yesterday that it is common for the elderly to experience difficulty eating.

"I don't want people to be worried. Some people are alarmed by the latest statement. They wonder why we have to give [His Majesty the King] nutrients via his blood vessels," Dr. Udom told reporters yesterday.

He continued, "It is because His Majesty the King is already old. His eating habits are in accordance with the nature of an elderly person. To use commoners' language: he doesn't eat much. Because he doesn't eat much, his health worsens, just like ordinary elderly people."

Dr. Udom said the medical team decided to provide His Majesty the King with nutrients intravenously to quickly improve his health, "so that the people will see His Majesty in good health, and will not have to worry anymore."

Apart from difficulty eating, His Majesty the King has no other health issues at the moment, Dr. Udom said. He also stressed that King Bhumibol only visited the hospital for his annual medical check-up, which requires special equipment.

"His Majesty had no condition that requires hospitalisation," Dr. Udom told reporters.

He also hinted that the king will make a public appearance "within one or two weeks." However, the doctor said it would be up to His Majesty to decide whether he returns to his summer retreat, Klai Kang Won Palace, or continues his stay at the hospital.

King Bhumibol previously spent several years at Siriraj Hospital to undergo surgery and other medical operations, before being discharged on 1 August 2013. For the past year, he has been recovering at Klai Kang Won Palace, an approximately two-hour drive south of Bangkok. 

His Majesty the King's health is a cause of anxiety for many Thais. The monarch has been on the throne for more than 60 years and is widely credited with bringing stability to the kingdom. 

Her Majesty the Queen, who turned 82 yesterday, is also said to be in frail health and has not made any public appearances in the past year. 

However, Her Majesty was seen accompanying the king in the royal motorcade to Siriraj Hospital last week.

According to Dr. Udom, Queen Sirikit is not receiving any medical treatment at the hospital and is only there to provide "moral support" to her husband. 

"At this moment, Her Majesty has a good health. She can walk normally," Dr. Udom said, "She just does not wish to make public appearances. This is Her Majesty's wish. The people should not be worried."

BANGKOK — Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has returned to Thailand to face charges of corruption in criminal court.

Ms. Yingluck landed at Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport at around 10.15 pm on Sunday night. A convoy of six cars whisked her away from the airport, without giving any interviews to the press. Today, she was seen at a supermarket in Ram Intra district picking fruits and taking photos with other shoppers.

Her return to Thailand has been a matter of intense speculation, as the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) found her guilty of negligence shortly before she left the country for Europe last month.

According to the NACC, Ms. Yingluck turned a blind eye to rampant corruption in her administration's rice pledging policy, reportedly costing the state more than 500 billion baht in damages. 

The NACC has sent the case to Thailand's Criminal Court. If found guilty, Ms. Yingluck could face up to 10 years in jail.

The NACC's decision to send Ms. Yingluck's case to court coincided with the former Prime Minister's announcement that she was traveling to France, presumably to attend a birthday party of her brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in the 2006 military coup.

There was widespread speculation that Ms. Yingluck would use the opportunity to evade her trial and possible prison term.

For many Thais, Ms. Yingluck’s situation was reminiscent of that which Mr. Thaksin once faced. Mr. Thaksin was charged with corruption after the 2006 coup. He fled the country shortly before a court found him guilty in 2008 and has been living in self-imposed exile ever since.

Last week, a report from Thai Rath newspaper quoted a source inside the Pheu Thai Party as saying that Ms. Yingluck may extend her stay abroad to 31 August.

However, Ms.Yingluck's return has put an end to the speculation. Her court date has not been set, as the Office of Attorney-General has not yet officially taken up the case against her.

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