Pseudo: Sim100 - - 2008-07-08 :: The National Gallery - The National Gallery was originally called Rong Kasap Sitthikan. King Rama V graciously ordered to build a new mint factory instead of the old one which was situated on the Grand Palace grounds, in order to produce coins. This location of the new mint factory was the former Palace of Phraratchawang Bowonsathan Mongkhon Familly. The construction was completed in 1902. It was a beautiful building, built from bricks like the buildings in Europe. The machine used for the fabrication of the coins was ordered from Europe, and was very modern at that time. Its capacity was around 80,000-100,000 coins a day. The cost of construction including the machine was around 800,000 baht. Consequently, when the mint factory was moved to Pradiphat Road, the Ministry of Finance gave the old building of Rong Kasap Sitthikan to the Fine Arts Department. The building was renovated and it was used for various art exhibitions and is called the National Gallery. Somdet Phrathep Pharat Ratchasuda Sayam Dorommaratoha Kumari presided at the inauguration ceremony on August 3, 1977
