Coins of the Philippine peso

Philippine peso coins are issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for circulation in the Philippines and are currently available in seven denominations.

History

Both Spain and the United States struck coins for the Philippines while the latter was their colony. Spanish issues were 1 peso, 2 pesos and 4 pesos (all gold from 1861–1868 and again in 1880-1885). Silver fractional coinage ran from 1864–1868 and again from 1880–1885 and were in the denominations of ten centavo, twenty centavo and fifty centavo.

The United States also struck coins for use in the Philippines from 1903 to 1945. Denominations included the ¹⁄₂ centavo, one centavo, five centavo, 10 centavo, 20 centavo, 50 centavo, and one peso. The ¹⁄₂ and 1 centavo coins were struck in bronze, the 5 centavo struck in Copper (75%)- Nickel(25%), the 10, 20, 50 centavo and peso coins were struck in a silver composition. From 1903 to 1906, the silver coins had a silver content of 90%, while those struck after 1906 had a reduced silver content of 75% for 10 through 50 centavos and 80% for the peso. In both cases the silver was alloyed with copper.

The obverse of these coins remained largely unchanged during the years 1903 to 1945. The ¹⁄₂ centavo, one centavo, and five centavo coins depict a Filipino man kneeling against an anvil, with a hammer resting at his side. He is on the left side (foreground), while on the right side (background) there is a simmering volcano, Mt. Mayon, topped with smoke rings. This figure is an allegory for the hard work being done by the native peoples of the Philippines in building their own future.

The obverse of the 10, 20, 50 centavo, and peso coins are similar, but they show the figure of Liberty, a standing female figure (considered by many to be the daughter of the designer 'Blanca') in the act of striking the anvil with a hammer. This was done to show the work being done by Americans in building a better Philippines. Liberty appears on the silver coins, instead of the base metal coins.

The reverse of the coins comes in two varieties. The earliest coins were minted when the islands were a US Territory, and they bear the arms of the US Territories. This is a broad winged eagle, sitting atop a shield divided into two registers. The upper register has 13 stars, and the lower register has 13 vertical stripes. The date appears at the bottom, and "United States of America" appears at the top.

When the islands became a US Commonwealth, the arms of the Commonwealth were adopted. This seal is composed of a much smaller eagle with its wings pointed up, perched over a shield with peaked corners, above a scroll reading "Commonwealth of the Philippines". It is a much busier pattern, and widely considered less attractive.

Coins were minted at the Philadelphia, San Francisco, Denver, and (after it was opened in 1920) Manila mints. Most of the coins struck at the Manila mint occurred after 1925.

Proof sets were struck for collectors from 1903 to 1908. It is likely that a large majority of these sets remained unsold at the time they were issued. The recorded mintage for sets in 1905, 1906, and 1908 is a modest 500.

Defenders of Corregidor threw a large number of silver coins into the ocean, rather than allow the Japanese to accumulate this wealth. A great deal of the booty was later recovered, but many of those were badly corroded.

Among the rarest coins in the U.S. Philippines series from the collectors' standpoint are the 1906-S One Peso, the 1916-S Five Centavos, the 1918-S Five Centavo Mule, the 1903-S Twenty Centavos (especially in Mint State) and the 1915-S One Centavo.

Three Commemorative coins were minted to celebrate the Commonwealth in 1936. They show President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon and U.S. High Commissioner Frank Murphy, who also has served as the last Governor General of the Islands. The 50 Centavo commemorative has a reported mintage of 20,000 pieces, was struck in 75% silver, and weighs 10 grams (the same specifications as other 50 centavos). The two varieties of One Peso commemorative had reported mintages of 10,000 pieces. They weigh 20 grams, and are 90% silver.

After the granting of independence to the Philippines in 1946, no coins were minted for the Philippine Republic until 1958, other than a small silver commemorative issue in 1947 to honor General Douglas MacArthur. Totals of 200,000 50 centavos and 100,000 one peso coins were minted with the general's image on the obverse and the national coat-of-arms on the reverse. Struck at the San Francisco Mint, they carry the "S" mintmark below the date.

In 1958, the 20 centavos was replaced with a 25 centavos and all coins were resized to be the same diameter as their US equivalents, albeit in more base metals, other than the centavo. The same seated man with anvil and volcano or standing liberty with anvil and volcano designs were retained for the obverses while the seal of the Central Bank of the Philippines dominated the reverse. These coins were minted by the Philadelphia Mint from 1958 through 1963, and then by the Royal Mint in England and the Vereinigte Deutsche Metallweke in West Germany in 1965 (dated 1964) and 1966. In view of all subsequent issues using the Tagalog language, this coinage is often referred to as the "English Series" since it uses the English language.

The next series was introduced in 1967, introducing images of various Philippine national heroes, and the use of the Tagalog (or "Pilipino") language, hence being called the "Pilipino Series." The sizes of the coins were reduced. These coins were struck by the various US mints, except for some 50 centavos pieces dated 1972 which were minted in Singapore, and a couple commemorative issues struck by the Sherritt Mint in Canada. In 1972 the one peso denomination was reintroduced.

During the time when the Flora and Fauna Series was minted, Commemorative coins were also issued, this one commemorates the centennial of the birth of Manuel Roxas

In commemoration of Fedinand Marcos' declaration of Martial Law (which he titled "Ang Bagong Lipunan," the new society), a new series of coinage was issued in 1975, referred to as the Ang Bagong Lipunan Series. The 50 sentimo was done away with as a denomination and a new 5 peso issue took its place. A variety of mints provided these coins, including the Royal Mint in England and the Vereinigte Deutsche Metallweke in West Germany, Philadelphia and San Francisco mints in the US, the Franklin Mint (a private mint also in the US), the Sherritt Mint in Canada, and finally the Philippine's own mint, once it was opened and able to produce coinage. From this point on, the Philippine Mint (Bangko Sentral Pilipinas, "BSP") produced nearly all Philippine coinage.

After eight years, the Ang Bagong Lipunan series gave way to a new series titled the Flora and Fauna Series, in which the coins, in addition to featuring various Philippine national heroes as before, also began featuring various plant and animal life forms native to the Philippines. The 50 Sentimo and 2 Piso denominations were reintroduced, which latter had not been struck as a coin since the Spanish had struck it in gold. The 5 Piso denomination was stopped, but resumed (in a new smaller size) concurrent to the final four years of the Flora and Fauna Series which featured reduced sizes for all denominations. The Flora and Fauna Series was struck from 1983 through 1994.

In 1995 the New BSP Series was introduced, which remains the current coinage of the Philippines. Only this current series of coins are legal tender as of January 2, 1998, when the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas issued BSP Circular No. 81 which called for the demonetization of all previous existing Central Bank coins minted before 1995.

Recently, fake 10- and 5-piso coins dating 2001 and 2002 have entered circulation. Because of this, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas issued a warning and several security measures on importing and falsifying Philippine coins. And it is because the BSP has announced that there is an artificial shortage of coins last June 2006. The BSP has asked the public to use all small coins or to have them exchanged for banknotes in local banks or other financial institution.

In December 2008 a Philippine Congress resolution called for the retirement and demonetization of all coins less than 1 Piso.

Formerly circulating coins

The Philippines under U.S. Sovereignty

The Philippines under U.S. Sovereignty (1898–1935)

Image		Face Value	Technical parameters				Description			Total Mintage[1]	Years of Issue[2]
Obverse	Reverse		Diameter	Thickness	Mass	Composition	Edge	Obverse	Reverse
		^1⁄2 centavo	17.5 mm			Bronze	Plain	Figure of a man seated beside an anvil holding a hammer and Mt. Mayon, year of minting	des.	12,084,000 5,654,000 471 500 500	1903 1904 1905 1906 1908
		1 centavo	24 mm			Bronze	Plain	Figure of a man seated beside an anvil holding a hammer and Mt. Mayon, year of minting	des.	10,790,000 17,040,400 10,000,000 500 500 2,187,000 1,737,612 2,700,000 4,803,000 3,001,000 5,000,000 5,000,500 2,500,000 4,330,000 7,070,000 11,660,000 4,540,000 2,500,000 3,552,259 7,282,673 3,519,100 9,325,000 9,000,000 9,279,000 9,150,000 5,657,161 5,577,000 5,659,355 4,000,000 8,392,692 3,179,000 17,455,463	1903 1904 1905 1906 1908 1908 S 1909 S 1910 S 1911 S 1912 S 1913 S 1914 S 1915 S 1916 S 1917 S 1918 S 1919 S 1920 S 1920 1921 1922 1925 M 1926 M 1927 M 1928 M 1929 M 1930 M 1931 M 1932 M 1933 M 1934 M 1936 M
		5 centavos	20.5 mm (1903–1928) 19 mm (1930–1935)			Copper-Nickel	Plain	Figure of a man seated beside an anvil holding a hammer and Mt. Mayon, year of minting	des.	yyyy	1903 1904 1905 1906 1908 1916 S 1917 S 1918 S 1919 S 1920 1921 1925 M 1926 M 1927 M 1928 M 1929 M 1930 M 1931 M 1932 M 1933 M 1934 M 1935 M
		10 centavos	17.5 mm (1903–1906) 16.5 mm (1907–1935)			75% Silver	Reeded	Lady Liberty striking an anvil with a hammer and Mt. Mayon, year of minting	des.	yyyy	1903 1903 S 1904 1904 S 1905 1906 1907 1907 S 1908 1908 S 1909 S 1911 S 1912 S 1913 S 1914 S 1915 S 1916 S 1917 S 1918 S 1919 S 1920 1921 1929 M 1935 M
		20 centavos	23 mm (1903–1906) 20 mm (1907–1929)	#	#					yyyy	1903 1903 S 1904 1904 S 1905 1905 S 1906 1907 1907 S 1908 1908 S 1909 S 1910 S 1911 S 1912 S 1913 S 1914 S 1915 S 1916 S 1917 S 1918 S 1919 S 1920 1921 1928 M 1929 M
		50 centavos	30 mm (1903–1906) 27 mm (1907–1921)	#	#					yyyy	1903 1903 S 1903 S 1904 1904 S 1905 1905 S 1906 1907 1907 S 1908 1908 S 1909 S 1917 S 1918 S 1919 S 1920 1921
		1 Peso	38 mm (1903–1906) 35 mm (1907–1912)	#	#					yyyy	1903 1903 S 1904 1904 S 1905 1905 S 1906 1906 S 1907 S 1908 1908 S 1909 S 1910 S 1911 S 1912 S

Commonwealth Issues

In 1935 when the Commonwealth was established by the Congress of the United States, they issued a three-piece commemorative set (that sold very poorly) to commemorate the occasion. In 1937 the Commonwealth Arms were adapted to all circulating coinage. (Mints M Manila, D Denver, S San Francisco, no mint mark Philadelphia)

Commonwealth Issues
Image		Face Value	Technical parameters				Description			Total Mintage[1]	Years of Issue[2]
Obverse	Reverse		Diameter	Thickness	Mass	Composition	Edge	Obverse	Reverse
		1 centavo	24  mm	# mm	# g	Bronze	Plain	The figure of an adolescent native, seated at an anvil and holding a hammer in his right hand. In the distance is seen the smoking volcano of Mt. Mayon, located on the main island of Luzon. The statement of value appears above him (One, and/or Five Centavos)in English, while the name of the archipelago is written below in Spanish as FILIPINAS.[3]	The coat of arms of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. Around this appeared the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, the mint mark, and the date of coinage.[4]	15,790,492 10,000,000 6,500,000 4,000,000 5,000,000 58,000,000	1937 M 1938 M 1939 M 1940 M 1941 M 1944 S
		5 centavos	19 mm	1.9 mm	4.9 g	75% Copper 25% Nickel Zinc	Plain			2,493,872 4,000,000 2,750,000 21,198,000 14,040,000 72,796,000	1937 M 1938 M 1941 M 1944 1944 S 1945 S
		10 centavos	16.5 mm	# mm	2 g	75% Silver 25% Copper	Reeded	The standing figure of an adolescent female was utilized. She is clad in a long, flowing gown and holds in her right hand a hammer, resting atop an anvil, as seen on the minor coins. Behind her is again Mt. Mayon, an almost perfectly conical volcanic mountain southwest of the capital city of Manila. The statement of value appears above her (Ten, Twenty,and/or Fifty Centavos) in English, while the name of the archipelago is written below in Spanish as FILIPINAS.[5]		3,500,000 3,750,000 2,500,000 31,592,000 137,208,000	1937 M 1938 M 1941 M 1944 D 1945 D
		20 centavos	20 mm	1.9 mm	4 g					2,665,000 3,000,000 1,500,000 28,596,000 82,804,000	1937 M 1938 M 1941 M 1944 D 1945 D
		50 centavos	27.5 mm	#	10 g					19,187,000 18,120,000	1944 S 1945 S

Commonwealth Commemorative Issues

Commonwealth Commemorative Issues
Image		Face Value	Technical parameters				Description			Total Mintage	Years of Issue
Obverse	Reverse		Diameter	Thickness	Mass	Composition	Edge	Obverse	Reverse
		50 centavos	# mm	# mm	# g	Silver #%Sil./#%Cup.	Reeded	description	Busts of Murphy and Quezon	20,000	1936 M
		1 Peso	# mm	# mm	# g		Reeded	description	Busts of Murphy and Quezon	10,000	1936 M
		1 Peso	# mm	# mm	# g		Reeded	description	Busts of Roosevelt and Quezon	10,000	1936 M

English Series

In 1958, a new, entirely base metal coinage was introduced, consisting of bronze 1 centavo, brass 5 centavos and nickel-brass 10, 25 and 50 centavos.

English Series
Image		Face Value	Technical parameters				Description			Total Mintage	Date of
Obverse	Reverse		Diameter	Thickness	Mass	Composition	Edge	Obverse	Reverse		issue	withdrawal
		1 centavo	18.5 mm			Bronze	Plain	Figure of a man seated beside an anvil holding a hammer and Mt. Mayon, year of minting	Bank title and coat of arms		1958	1967
		5 centavos	20.0 mm			Brass	Plain	Figure of a man seated beside an anvil holding a hammer and Mt. Mayon, year of minting	Bank title and coat of arms		1958	1967
		10 centavos	17.5 mm			Nickel-brass	Reeded	Lady Liberty striking an anvil with a hammer and Mt. Mayon, year of minting	Bank title and coat of arms		1958	1967
		25 centavos	23.5 mm
		50 centavos	30.0 mm

Pilipino Series

In 1969, the coinage was altered to reflect the use of Filipino names for the currency units. 1-piso coins were introduced in 1971

Pilipino Series
Image		Value	Diameter	Composition	Edge	Obverse	Reverse	Year of
Obverse	Reverse							first minting	withdrawal
		1 sentimo	10.0 mm	Aluminum	Plain	Lapu-Lapu	State title, coat of arms, year of minting	1969	1974
		5 sentimos	13.0 mm	Brass	Plain	Melchora Aquino	State title, coat of arms, year of minting	1969	1974
		10 sentimos	17.5 mm	Nickel-brass	Reeded	Francisco Baltazar	State title, coat of arms, year of minting	1969	1974
		25 sentimos	21.0 mm			Juan Luna
		50 sentimos	27.0 mm			Marcelo H. del Pilar
		₱1	33.0 mm			José Rizal	State title, coat of arms, year of minting between the words "BANGKO" and "SENTRAL"	1972

Ang Bagong Lipunan Series

In 1974, the "Ang Bagong Lipunan" ("The New Society") series, was introduced with the ₱5 coins included. Aluminium replaced bronze and cupro-nickel replaced nickel-brass that year.

Ang Bagong Lipunan Series
Image		Value	Diameter	Composition	Edge	Obverse	Reverse	Year of
Obverse	Reverse							first minting	withdrawal
		1 sentimo	11.5 mm (length of side of rounded square shaped edge)	Aluminum	Plain	State title, Lapu-Lapu, value	"ANG BAGONG LIPUNAN," BSP logo, year of minting	1975	1983
		5 sentimos	13.5 mm (8-pointed rounded scallop edge)	Brass	Plain	State title, Melchora Aquino, value	"ANG BAGONG LIPUNAN," BSP logo, year of minting	1975	1983
		10 sentimos	17.5 mm	Cupro-Nickel	Reeded	State title, Francisco Baltazar, value	"ANG BAGONG LIPUNAN," BSP logo, year of minting	1975	1983
		25 sentimos	21.0 mm			State title, Juan Luna, value
		₱1	28.5 mm			State title, José Rizal, value	"ANG BAGONG LIPUNAN," coat of arms with the scroll text altered to "ISANG BANSA, ISANG DIWA" ("One Nation, One Spirit") with two digits of the year minted on both sides, bank title
		₱5	35.0 mm			"ANG BAGONG LIPUNAN," "Setyembre 21, 1972" ("September 21, 1972"), Ferdinand Marcos, year of minting	State title, coat of arms with the scroll text altered to "ISANG BANSA, ISANG DIWA" ("One Nation, One Spirit")		1982

Flora and Fauna Series

The Flora and Fauna series was introduced in 1983 which included ₱2 coins. The sizes of the coins were reduced and ₱5 coins were reintroduced in 1991, with the production of 50-sentimo and ₱2 coins ceasing in 1994.

Flora and Fauna Series
Image		Value	Diameter	Composition	Edge	Obverse	Reverse	Year of
Obverse	Reverse							first minting	withdrawal
		1 sentimo	15.5 mm	99.2% Al 0.8% Mg	Plain	Voluta imperialis, Value	State title, Lapu-Lapu, year of minting	1983	1994
		5 sentimo	17.0 mm			Vanda sanderiana (Waling-waling), Value	State title, Melchora Aquino, year of minting
		10 sentimo	19.0 mm			Pandaka pygmaea (Philippine Goby), Value	State title, Francisco Baltazar, value, year of minting
		25 sentimo	21.0 mm	Brass	Reeded	Graphium idaeoides, Value	State title, Juan Luna, year of minting	1983	1990
		50 sentimo	25.0 mm	75% Cu 25% Ni	Plain	Pithecophaga jefferyi (Philippine Eagle), Value	State title, Marcelo H. del Pilar, year of minting	1983	1990
		₱1	29.0 mm		Reeded	Anoa mindorensis (Tamaraw), Value	State title, José Rizal, year of minting
		₱2	29.8 mm (decagon)		Plain	Cocos nucifera (Coconut Tree), Value	State title, Andrés Bonifacio, year of minting
Improved Flora and Fauna Series (1991–1994)
		25 sentimo	16.0 mm	Brass	Plain	Graphium idaeoides, Value	State title, Juan Luna, year of minting	1991	1994
		50 sentimo	17.5 mm		Reeded	Pithecophaga jefferyi (Philippine Eagle), Value	State title, Marcelo H. del Pilar, year of minting
		₱1	21.6 mm	Stainless steel	Plain	Anoa mindorensis (Tamaraw), Value	State title, José Rizal, year of minting	1991	1994
		₱2	24.0 mm		Reeded	Cocos nucifera (Coconut Tree), Value	State title, Andrés Bonifacio, year of minting
		₱5	25.5 mm	Nickel brass	Reeded	Pterocarpus indicus (Narra), Value	State title, Emilio Aguinaldo, year of minting	1991	1994

Circulating coins

1995 series

Image		Face Value	Technical parameters				Description		Years of Issue
Obverse	Reverse		Diameter	Mass	Composition	Edge	Obverse	Reverse	Introduced	Withdrawn
		1 sentimo	15.5 mm	2.0 g	Copper plated steel	Plain	"Republika ng Pilipinas", value, year of minting	Logo of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas	1995
		5 sentimos	15.5 mm	1.9 g		Plain (with 4 mm central hole)	"Republika ng Pilipinas", value, year of minting	Words "Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas" along the border
		10 sentimos	17.0 mm	2.5 g		Reeded	"Republika ng Pilipinas", value, year of minting	Logo of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
		25 sentimos	20.0 mm	3.8 g	Brass	Plain	"Republika ng Pilipinas", value, year of minting	Logo of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas	1995
				3.6 g	Brass plated steel				2004
		1 peso	24.0 mm	6.1 g	Cupronickel	Reeded	"Republika ng Pilipinas", Profile of José Rizal, value, year of minting	Logo of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas	1995
				5.35 g	Nickel plated steel				2004
		5 pesos	27.0 mm	7.7 g	70% copper 5.5% nickel 24.5% zinc	Plain	12-pointed scallop border design, "Republika ng Pilipinas", Profile of Emilio Aguinaldo, value, year of minting	12-pointed scallop border design, Logo of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas	1995
		10 pesos	26.5 mm	8.7 g	Ring: Cupronickel	Interrupted milled	Ring: "Republika ng Pilipinas", year of minting	Logo of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas	2000
					Center: Aluminium bronze		Center: Profiles of Andrés Bonifacio and Apolinario Mabini, value

Current legal tender commemorative coins

On December 9, 2011, The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) issued a commemorative one-peso coin in celebration with the 150th Birth Anniversary of José Rizal. The coins are in the same dimensions as the circulating one peso coins with Rizal's profile on the front instead of the side. The new coin also has the new logo of the central bank and is legal tender with the current series.^[6]

On December 18, 2013, The BSP issued a commemorative ten-peso coin in celebration with the 150th Birth Anniversary of Andres Bonifacio. The coins are in the same dimensions but the design changed. These also featured the new logo of the central bank and is also legal tender.

On December 22, 2014, The BSP issued three commemorative coins, a 5 peso coin to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Leyte Gulf Landings,^[7] a 5 peso coin honoring Overseas Filipinos with the theme "Bagong Bayani"^[8] and a 10 peso coin celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Apolinario Mabini.^[9]

On December 21, 2015, The BSP issued a commemorative 10-peso coin in honor of General Miguel Malvar, in time for the 150th year birth anniversary.^[10]

Current legal tender commemorative coins
Image	Value	Diameter	Weight	Composition	Edge	Obverse	Reverse	First Minted Year
	1 peso	24.0 mm	5.35 g	Nickel plated steel	Reeded	"Republika ng Pilipinas", Profile of José Rizal, "150 Years", "1861-2011"	Logo of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas with a facade of the sun, value, year of minting	2011
	5 pesos			Nickel-brass	Plain	"Republika ng Pilipinas", profile of Filipinos, "Bagong Bayani"	Date of issue, passenger jet, logo of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, a Filipino family, denomination	2014
	5 pesos			Nickel-brass	Plain	"Leyte Gulf Landing", scene of the landing, "70th Anniversary", "1944-2014"	"I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God our forces stand again on Philippine soil - soil consecrated from the blood of our two peoples.", five stars denoting the rank of general, date and signature of Douglas MacArthur, logo of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, denomination	2014
	10 pesos	26.5 mm	8.7 g	Bi-metallic (Copper nickel outer ring with an aluminum bronze center plug)	Segmented	"Republika ng Pilipinas", Profile of Andres Bonifacio	Monument of Andres Bonifacio, "Dangal at Kabayanihan", signature of Andres Bonifacio, logo of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, "150 Years", "1863-2013"	2013
	10 pesos	26.5 mm	8.7 g	Bi-metallic (Copper nickel outer ring with an aluminum bronze center plug)	Segmented	"Republika ng Pilipinas", Profile of Apolinario Mabini, quill pen	"Talino at Paninindigan" Monument to Apolinario Mabini, signature of Apolinario Mabini, logo of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, "150 Taon", "1864-2014"	2014
	10 pesos	26.5 mm	8.7 g	Bi-metallic (Copper nickel outer ring with an aluminum bronze center plug)	Segmented	"Republika ng Pilipinas", portrait and signature of Miguel Malvar, denomination	Logo of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, figure of Miguel Malvar, "150 Taon", "1865-2015"	2015

References

1. All mintage numbers are from Red Book A Guide Book of United States Coins, page #
2. All year dates and mint mark denominations are from Red Book A Guide Book of United States Coins, page #
3. 
   All of these coins bore a single reverse design, the federal shield surmounted by an American eagle clutching an olive branch in its right claw and a bundle of arrows in its left. Around this appeared the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the date of coinage. The obverse of the minor coins (the half centavo and one centavo, both coined in bronze, and the copper-nickel five centavos) featured the semi-nude figure of an adolescent native, seated at an anvil and holding a hammer in his right hand. In the distance is seen the smoking volcano of Mt. Mayon, located on the main island of Luzon. The statement of value appears above him in English, while the name of the archipelago is written below in Spanish as FILIPINAS. This employment of Spanish is curious, given the islands’ recent history, yet it remained for some years afterward the principal language of the educated class. For the silver coins (ten, twenty and fifty centavos, plus the one-peso piece), the standing figure of an adolescent female was utilized. She is clad in a long, flowing gown and holds in her right hand a hammer, resting atop an anvil, as seen on the minor coins. Behind her is again Mt. Mayon, an almost perfectly conical volcanic mountain northeast of the capital city of Manila. These designs are credited to Filipino sculptor Melecio Figueroa, who lived just long enough to see his coins enter circulation.
4. 
   The transition from protectorate to commonwealth, which occurred November 15, 1935, was commemorated on a set of three coins dated 1936-M. The fifty-centavo piece shows facing portraits of outgoing Governor-General Frank Murphy and incoming President Manuel Quezon. They are portrayed again on one of the peso coins, this time in profile, their busts overlapping. This same configuration is used for the other one-peso commemorative, but on its obverse the subjects are President Quezon and President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt. This is a very rare instance of a living U. S. president appearing on a United States coin. The common reverse for all three coins depicted the arms of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. Featuring elements symbolic of Spain, The USA and the islands themselves, it was adopted as the common reverse for all regular-issue coins beginning in 1937.
5. 
   All of these coins bore a single reverse design, the federal shield surmounted by an American eagle clutching an olive branch in its right claw and a bundle of arrows in its left. Around this appeared the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the date of coinage. The obverse of the minor coins (the half centavo and one centavo, both coined in bronze, and the copper-nickel five centavos) featured the semi-nude figure of an adolescent native, seated at an anvil and holding a hammer in his right hand. In the distance is seen the smoking volcano of Mt. Mayon, located on the main island of Luzon. The statement of value appears above him in English, while the name of the archipelago is written below in Spanish as FILIPINAS. This employment of Spanish is curious, given the islands’ recent history, yet it remained for some years afterward the principal language of the educated class. For the silver coins (ten, twenty and fifty centavos, plus the one-peso piece), the standing figure of an adolescent female was utilized. She is clad in a long, flowing gown and holds in her right hand a hammer, resting atop an anvil, as seen on the minor coins. Behind her is again Mt. Mayon, an almost perfectly conical volcanic mountain northeast of the capital city of Manila. These designs are credited to Filipino sculptor Melecio Figueroa, who lived just long enough to see his coins enter circulation.
6. "BSP to Issue One-Piso Commemorative Rizal Coin in December". Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Retrieved 2011-12-30.
7. Philippines 5 piso 2014 - Leyte Gulf landing World Coin News (worldcoinnews.blogspot.com). December 26, 2014. Retrieved on 2014-12-26.
8. Philippines 5 piso 2014 - Bagong Bayani World Coin News (worldcoinnews.blogspot.com). December 26, 2014. Retrieved on 2014-12-26.
9. Philippines 10 piso 2014 - Apolinario Mabini World Coin News (worldcoinnews.blogspot.com). December 26, 2014. Retrieved on 2014-12-26.
10. "BSP issues limited edition P10-Miguel Malvar coin". Rappler. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.

External links

• Sinsilyo
• Philippine Coins and Banknotes
• Philippine Coins News & Update
• Philippine Coin Forum