The Phra Somdej Wat Bang Khun Phrom, a highly revered and sought-after piece, features the tone of the Bangkhae variant. A notable feature of this revered amulet is the back, which should have a slight curve.

Wat Bang Khun Phrom, the birthplace of the famed Phra Somdej Wat Bang Khun Phrom, is an ancient temple established towards the end of the Thonburi period. Initially called 'Wat Wora Mattharam,' it was later renamed 'Wat Ammattayaras' or 'Wat Amatras.' The local community, however, commonly refers to it as 'Wat Bang Khun Phrom'. The temple was once cared for by Prince In, who was part of the royal family during the reign of King Rama III. After Prince In's death, the temple was overseen by a member of the Thanakoses family, a prominent local lineage.

During the reign of King Rama V, a road called Visutthikatsathit was constructed through the center of the temple, effectively dividing Wat Bang Khun Phrom into two parts. These two sections of the temple are as follows:

1. Wat Bang Khun Phrom Nai (New Amatras Temple), which houses the great chedi and the collection of Phra Somdej Wat Bang Khun Phrom found in the temple's vault.
2. Wat Bang Khun Phrom Nok (Inthravihara Temple), named after Prince In, where the grand standing statue of Phra Luang Pho Tho is enshrined.

In 1870, a member of the Thanakoses family sought the counsel of Somdej Phutthajarn (To Phromrangsi) of Wat Rakang, a revered monk of that era. He had a close relationship with Somdej Phutthajarn (To) and expressed his desire to create a Buddha image for future generations, as making such images is considered an act of great merit. At that time, Somdej Phutthajarn (To) was already elderly, and he had a deep affection for Wat Bang Khun Phrom, frequently traveling between Wat Rakang and Wat Bang Khun Phrom.

In the creation of the amulet, Somdej Phra Phutthajarn (To) approved the idea and suggested that if the amulet were to be made, it should be crafted from powder, similar to the famous amulets from Wat Rakhang that he had previously created. These Wat Rakhang amulets had gained significant fame even before Somdej Phra Phutthajarn (To) passed away. He also offered to lend the molds used to create the Wat Rakhang amulets, which were highly sought after. These molds included four popular designs: the large mold, the pagoda-shaped mold, the lotus bud hair mold, and the sam base mold.

The plan for this amulet creation was ambitious, aiming to produce as many as possible, with the goal of creating a complete set of 84,000 amulets (though it is believed the actual number made did not exceed 10,000). Once finished, the amulets would be stored in the large chedi, to be retrieved in the future should the country face disaster or crisis, allowing people to use them for protection. Somdej Phra Phutthajarn (To) provided several sacred powders, which he had consecrated during his time as a novice, and recommended using materials like lime powder, seashells, or stone powder to form the amulets. Once completed, the amulets were to be sealed in the chedi.

In 1957, the temple recognized that if left as it was, the chedi might collapse, and the valuable items stored by the civil servant from the Thanakoset family and Somdej Phra Phutthajarn (To) would be damaged. A decision was made to officially open the chedi that year. General Praphat Jarusathien, the Minister of the Interior at that time, presided over the event. Approximately 3,000 amulets were retrieved from the chedi, each stamped with the temple’s seal on the back. The amulets retrieved had a thick layer of crust, and in some cases, they were even fused together in clumps, requiring careful chipping to separate them.

When discussing amulets, the names “Phra Somdej Wat Rakhang Khositaram” and “Phra Somdej Wat Bang Khun Phrom” immediately come to mind. Both are amulets that were created and consecrated by Somdej Phra Phutthajarn (To Phromrangsi), and they are highly revered and sought after in the world of amulet collectors.

In terms of spiritual potency, Phra Somdej Wat Bang Khun Phrom is on par with Phra Somdej Wat Rakhang. This is because Somdej Phra Phutthajarn (To) was directly involved in the creation and consecration of both amulets. Today, I will guide you through identifying the features and flaws of the Phra Somdej Wat Bang Khun Phrom, specifically the 'Pair Base' style.

The Phra Somdej Wat Bang Khun Phrom, Pair Base style, has a distinct shape, with its front primarily defined by the mold's design. The amulet’s material is rather compact, with traces of dark and red materials being minimal. The aged core of the amulet is sturdy yet brittle, and the crust has a texture similar to tofu foam. The mold's outline is sharply defined, with crust layers that peel off. Used amulets often show material floating to the surface, and the edges are sharp, cut cleanly and straight, resembling ancient stamping techniques. Some pieces show slight distortion or curvature of the figure.

The back of the amulet shows signs of pressure molding, with a smooth texture, though some may feature slight wrinkles. The shape is typically curved, with some pieces having ink stamps on the back while others lack them. The material is compact, mostly composed of white lime and seashell powder, with only a few dark or red specks present.

The side view displays sharp edges, with a sloped or flexible nature, allowing the amulet to bend or twist depending on its individual form. This natural variation is characteristic of Phra Somdej Wat Bang Khun Phrom, distinguishing it from the Wat Rakhang amulets.