On November 1, 2026, Wat Pa Sri Khunaram in Ban Chi subdistrict, Ku Kaeo district, Udon Thani province, will hold a community kathin robe-offering ceremony (kathin samakkhi). According to multiple Thai outlets reporting September 1, the temple is casting its first commemorative coin, the "Luang Phor Prajak–Luang Phor Bunsin Run 1," to thank donors — and the project has drawn extra attention because its funding now includes 16 baht (roughly 242 grams) of gold donated by Luang Pu Sila (หลวงปู่ศิลา), one of northeastern Thailand's most recognized wandering ascetic monks.
From Army Commander to Forest Monk
The coin's namesake, Luang Phor Bunsin Chotipanyo, was until his retirement General Bunsin Padklang, commander of Thailand's Second Army Region — the unit responsible for security along the Thai-Cambodian border and much of the northeast. Thai media nicknamed him "Maethap Kung" (แม่ทัพกุ้ง). After ordaining, he took over the hermitage of the late meditation teacher Phra Ajarn Prajak Phuripanyo at Wat Pa Sri Khunaram, adopting the monastic name Chotipanyo. The kathin ceremony and the coin were organized jointly by Phra Ajarn Prajak's original disciples and Bunsin's own followers, honoring both teachers.
The Coin and the Ceremony
The oval copper coin, about 2.5 by 3.5 centimeters, carries a bust of Phra Ajarn Prajak on the front and the words "victory, auspiciousness, great fortune" alongside Bunsin's signature and a phoenix motif on the reverse. Donors who sponsor a kathin "unit" for 1,000 baht each receive one coin plus a piece of blessed cloth. Once cast, the coins will sit on the temple's main altar for three months of daily morning-and-evening chanting before being distributed — a standard practice for amulets and commemorative coins meant to carry protective or auspicious force (see our guide on what happens at a Thai amulet consecration ceremony).
Why Luang Pu Sila's Gold Matters
Overseas collectors following our coverage may already recognize Luang Pu Sila: we previously reported on his consecration of Lek Lai amulets to fund a temple in Laos. Known for wandering between forests and abandoned cemeteries across the northeast and for his catchphrase "I won't let you stay poor" (กูไม่ให้มึงจน), Luang Pu Sila is currently one of the most sought-after forest-tradition monks in Isaan. His decision to personally fund part of a former general's new temple project functions as an informal endorsement — which is likely why several outlets, including Amarin TV and PPTV HD 36, folded the two stories (a soldier's ordination and a senior monk's gold gift) into one report. Coverage also noted that the coin project had drawn some online chatter about its purpose, prompting Bunsin to state publicly that every baht raised goes to the temple, not to himself.
What This Means for Collectors
Strictly speaking, this is a temple commemorative coin rather than a classic protective amulet, and its collector appeal currently rests on two things: Luang Pu Sila's blessing, and Bunsin's unusual biography as a general-turned-monk. That combination of "first edition plus an unusual origin story" is exactly the kind of profile that has historically driven long-term appreciation in the Thai amulet market. For now, though, the coin is only available through direct kathin sponsorship at the temple — it has not entered Bangkok's amulet markets or online resale platforms. Buyers who spot one being sold online before the three-month chanting period ends (expected around early 2027) should treat it with caution and verify directly with Wat Pa Sri Khunaram before paying a premium.
Source: PPTV HD 36, Amarin TV