1908 US Philippines One Peso Coin

The Philippines was ceded to the United States as part of the settlement between Spain and the United States at the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898. During the United States administration, Congress was responsible for issuing coinage. By an act passed March 2, 1903, a new currency system based on a theoretical peso of 12.9 grains of gold 900 fine, equivalent to one-half of a United States gold dollar. The circulating medium was to be the Philippine silver peso, which was to be legal tender for all debts, public and private, and its value was to be maintained on a parity with the theoretical gold peso. For this purpose the creation of a gold standard, or gold reserve fund, was provided for, and this fund was to be maintained and could be used for no other purpose.
The first U.S./Philippine coins were minted in 1903 in Philadelphia and San Francisco and bear both the Identities of the United States and "Filipinas" (Spanish for The Philippines).

Above images shows the 1908 US Philippines One Peso Coin of San Francisco mint. Designed by Melecio Figueroa. The obverse of the coin has the written denomination “ONE PESO” on it, along with “FILIPINAS”. It shows the figure of Liberty, a standing female figure, which is considered by many to be the daughter of the designer “Blanca”, in the 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. On the right side there is a simmering volcano, Mt. Mayon, topped with smoked rings.

The reverse of the coins bear the arms of US territories. This is a broadwinged eagle, sitting atop a shield divided into two registers. The upper register has 13 stars, the lower register has 13 vertical stripes. The date (1908) appears at the bottom with mint mark on the left side (s-San Francisco mint), and “United States of America” appears at the top.

Your comments on the subject is highly appreciated. Fellow collectors do drop some line, we can exchange link, help explore and share the intricacies of the hobby.

2C Blue Rizal Issue of 1911

2C Blue Rizal on White Stock (1911)

Shipped to the Philippines December 20, 1910 to August 28, 1914 Card size: 140 x 83 mm. Quantity issued: 500,000 cards.

Sc#UX11a,UPS11a

Privately Overprinted Postal Card by the Bureau of Supply.

Manila Circulating:"Jul 29/430pm/Manila/P.I.

Philippines Scott# NUZ1 Postal Card

Philippines Sc#NUZ1 (K.P. Official Postal Cards, 2c Rizal-Rose on pale buff/canary)

Issued on April 7, 1943, Philippines under Japanese Occupations. K.P. stands for "Kagamitang Pampamahalaan", or Official Business postal card used solely for government transactions. These stamps were not officially available to the public , but the Association Filatelica de Filipinas acquire a limited quantity under strict controls.

Above postal cards is of 1938-1940 Commonwealth issues overprinted in black with "KoYo K.P."

Short dividing lines overprinted above middle should have a word "Commonwealth" affix to the card and on right side above "United States of America". Deletion as depicted on sample postal is an indication of Japanese dominion in the Philippines during the World War II era. Scarce postal card. Inverted arrow is one of the rarest varities of these issues.

Anybody interested to start on these areas of Philippine Philately are very welcomed. Im am more than willing to share some thoughts with you. Stamp afficionados out there are very welcomed too. It is our responsibility to share the worth of the hobby.

1880's Philippine Telegraphic Receipt

A very nice Telegraphic Receipt No. 825 to Glasgow via Suez tied with 30 pieces of Sc. # 94 plus 3 pieces of 5 Pesos Telegrafos.

"IMPORTE DEL P. ESPEDIDO NUM", Para Glasgow via Suez. Circa 1880's

The punch hole as can be seen represents the stamps cancellation, thus the stamps can no longer be used for telegraphic transactions.

1864 Spain Philippines Queen Isabella II Stamps

According to an Act dated July 19, 1849 Spain adopted the metric monetary system for herself and her colonies. 1862 had been designated as the year in which it should go into operation, but this was later postponed until 1864 for the Philippines, and 1866 for Spain. Hence, a new issue of stamps was made, of uniform type for Spain and her colonies, except as to the values given in the lower label of each stamp.
The stamps were typographed on tinted paper by the Fabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre, Madrid, Spain. They were engraved by Don Jose Perez Varela; issued imperforate; measure 18¾ x 22 mm; and printed in sheets of 100 stamps, (ten rows of ten each). The quantities issued are unknown, although the supply that arrived from Spain was considerably large as to meet the demand until the end of 1868, when the remaining stock was overprinted "Habilitado Por La Nacion".
The design shows the left profile of Queen Isabella II, enclosed in an oval frame of pearls, and an elaborate diadem in the outer frame. The word "CORREOS" appears in the top label, with a white dot before and after it.
Four values were issued which correspond to the previous values of 5-cuartos, 10-cuartos, 1-real and 2-reales respectively. A Royal Order of December 5, 1864 authorised the use of the 3-1/8 and 6-2/8 centimos values on foreign correspondence whenever their value permitted, despite being originally intended for "interior" use. (excerpts from nigelgooding.com)

3-1/8 centimos de peso fuerte. Issued in varying shades of black. Exists on buff paper (Scott #21; SG #26; Edifil #17) and cream paper (Edifil #17a).pictures shown above at right

6-2/8 centimos de peso fuerte. Issued in varying shades of green. Exists on white paper (Edifil #18) and rose paper (Scott #22; SG #27; Edifil #18a).not shown above

12-4/8 centimos de peso fuerte. Issued in varying shades of blue. Exists on salmon paper (Scott #23; Edifil #19), white paper (Edifil #19a) and flesh coloured paper (SG #28).pictures shown above at left

25 centimos de peso fuerte. Issued in varying shades of red. Exists on white paper (Scott #24; SG #30; Edifil #20) and rose paper (SG #29; Edifil #20a).pictures shown above at the center

Philippines Scott#21,23&24 with Plate Flaws, NO DOT UNDER "Po".
These are one of each kind plate flaws of Spanish dominion Philippines stamps.
Used. Very Rare.

Fellow collectors welcomed.

Philippine Emergency Notes

When the Japanese invaded the Philippine Islands (hours after bombing Pearl Harbor), some soldiers and civilians took to the hills and mountains to fight against the invaders. As the 'official' defense of the islands dwindled into defeat for the Filipinos and the Americans, the resistance grew in strength and numbers.

On January 2, 1942, the invading Japanese occupied the Treasury Building in Manila and captured almost $20.5-million worth of paper Peso currency, U.S., and an unknown amount of foreign currency. At the same time millions of dollars in coin and gold and silver bullion fell into enemy hands.Despite that, considerably more currency existed in municipalities and provinces outside Manila, and it was gathered up and destroyed before the Japanese could get to it.
The Japanese-sponsored government under Jose P. laurel outlawed the issuance of existing currencies and declared a monopoly on the issuance of the money and introduces a new denominations known as Japanese Invasion Money. Because of the fiat nature of the currency, the country fell the effects of hyperinflation, so much more to the American troops and guerilla fighters.

The demand for monetary currencies were high given the emergency situations the country faced. There is a felt need for guerilla fighters and American allies to have monetary denominations to sustain the resistance. When President Quezon fled from Manila to General Douglas MacArthur's headquarters on Corregidor, he created the first local Currency Committees, authorized create and print emergency occupation currency. Additional committees were eventually authorized and formed throughout the occupied country, and, as a result, came in a wide variety of designs. The notes they issued were done with the expectation and promise that they would be redeemed by a specific date after Japan was defeated and the Allies won the war. These special paper notes, most often crudely made, were used by American troops who remained in the hills as guerilla and resistance fighters against the Japanese, and by local citizens as well. To be caught by the Japanese with this money was often punishable by public execution.

Although far from complete, I will posts some of the great mementoes of Philippine Emergency Notes, also known as Guerilla Currencies, in my possession. Hopefully this will spark enough interest in some collectors especially the Filipinos, and non-collectors as well, to further explore the daily heroism that is exemplified within these notes , and the stories they hold.

From one of my collections: Emergency Notes from Misamis Occidental
Issued by the Misamis Occidental Currency Committee