The Foundation of the National Gallery          The old Royal Mint building was presented to the Fine Arts Department by the Treasury Department, The Ministry of Finance for conversion it to the National Gallery on April 19,1974 The Grand opening ceremony was planned to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's birthday and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided this place on August 8, 1977. The Royal Mint          This Building was constructed in the reign of King Rama V to serve as a factory producing coins due to the need of His Majesty the King to create money for use for the first time in the country. He presided over the building and operated the machine himself on February 4,1902.          The first Royal Mint of the nation is in a western architectural style influenced by a factory in Birmingham, England, made of brick and with a gable roof. The building has two wings and a court in the center. Visitors can also enter the courtyard by walking through a big vaulted door on the right hand size. The architectural ornamentation of the mint is astounding. All windows are curved and decorated with strips while those of the upper story are adorned with arches in a Roman Style. The outer wall is engraved in shallow horizontal lines, and the edge of the roof is resembles lace embroidery. The facade at the front is a bas-relief of the sculptured arm of King Rama V inside a leaf decoration.          At the front of the building, the lintel above the door leading to the second floor is of stained glass. The floor of the first story is of ornamental marble, while that at the second story is teak.          This old Royal Mint, in western style architecture dating from the King Rama V period, is recognized as one of the most beautiful buildings in the country and was registered as a national monument on September 19,1978. Functional Space The National Gallery is an area of 4130 square - meters consisted of the followings:      1. Permanent Exhibition (the front building) 930.5 square - meters      2. Temporary Exhibition 1410 square - meters      3. Auditorium 475 square - meters      4. Recreation 500 square - meters      5. Office 815 square - meters