Friday, June 26, 2009
2 Peso Victory Note
Thursday, June 25, 2009
1928 5 Pesos (BPI Note)
This note and other ones included in such types seems to show strong influence of U.S. during those times. Although local figures(Filipino heroes) are depicted in other issues and usually seen in 1 Peso and 2 Pesos, the majority and higher denomination bears U.S figures at most. Upon closer look of this note, details are beautiful to look at and it seems to be one of the good characteristics of older notes in the Philippines.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Cagayan Province Large Denomination (3rd Issue) Guerilla Money
Reference: "Philippine emergency and guerrilla currency of World War II" by Shafer Neil.
The following notes are the third printing of Cagayan's Series. According to the reference, this is the final issue and were several printings; size changed for some lower denominations, while color and plate changes took place with various higher denominations. No notes of this series are dated.
The following details are for large size denominations (1 Peso and higher) only and I’ll include the lower denominations soon as I've finished editing them.
General Characteristics:
Face: Rubber plate, flying eagle in center, two purple printed serial numbers, printed text, signatures and titles in black or green. Handwritten initial under each serial number. Text (in generally unreadable Gothic type) is as follows:
“THIS CERTIFIES THAT THERE HAS BEEN DEPOSITED IN THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK THE EQUIVALENCE OF (ONE PESO/ OTHER DENOMINATION) PAYABLE TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND AFTER THE WAR.”
Each note is titled: EMERGENCY CERTIFICATE.
Back: Plate print, Roman and Gothic text; Gothic as follows:
“ISSUED BY AUTHORITY OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE PROVINCIAL BOARD OF CAGAYAN. REFUSAL TO ACCEPT THIS NOTE IS PUNISHABLE BY LAW.”
Extra handwritten number underneath. Text in black or green.
Size: 157/67mm.
Paper: Plain light brown.
1 Peso (1st type):
Purple with black text face and back.
1 Peso (2nd type):
Green with black text face and back.
1 Peso (3rd type):
2 Pesos:
Olive green with larger or smaller Gothic text.
5 Pesos (1st type):
5 Pesos ( 2nd type):
20 Pesos (1st type):
Supposedly there is a 10 Pesos reported according to the reference, although during that time, no specimens have been located in any collection. If there is during this time, then it could be hard to find and probably would cost a lot.
It seems that these type of notes that came from Luzon area are not commonly found, compared from the Vizayas and Mindanao area which can be found easier, but still this is not the basis of telling that they are rare or not. It will still depend upon other factors that leads to such category.
I"m very thankful that I was able to have these notes from Mr. Coolpit cause I really didn't think that I'll have these much earlier than I expected cause back then, I was reading the reference about these notes and now I'm actually keeping them as well. I want to preserve these pieces of history, hoping that others will appreciate them today and in the future.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
1 Peso Victory Note
In October of 1944, MacArthur (along with the US Army and Navy) did return to the Philippines. By February of 1945, the islands were secured and the Philippine Islands were once again under American sovereignty. Carried along with the American forces was a new issue of Treasury Certificates to reestablish the US-Philippine monetary system on the islands.
These notes, while maintaining the designs of the pre-WWII issues, were distinguished from previous notes by the overprinting of “VICTORY” on the back of each note. “Victory Notes,” as they have come to be called, were issued in denominations of one, two, five, ten, twenty, fifty, one hundred and five hundred pesos.
Reference: "Philippine emergency and guerrilla currency of World War II" by Shafer Neil. Seen in the appendix of the brief summary of Philippine paper money.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Japanese-Philippine Money 1st Issue
Reference: "Philippine emergency and guerrilla currency of World War II" by Shafer Neil. Seen in the appendix of the brief summary of Philippine paper money.
Japanese-Philippine Issues During World War II- "Mickey Mouse Money"
The Japanese wasted no time in proclaiming the validity and acceptability of the first issue of their invasion currency. Following is the text of an official proclamation by the Japanese army which is self-explanatory:
PROCLAMATION Jan. 3, 1942
The Imperial Japanese Army in the occupied areas, will use the war notes(military pass-money) endorsed and issued by the imperial Japanese Government. All the people residing within the concerned areas should be aware of the following:
1. The war notes (Military pass-money) have been issued by the Imperial Japanese Government and said government takes full responsibility for their usage having the correct amount to back them up.
2. Those who hold the war notes will be able to use them in making payments of all kinds.
3. If any one attempts to interfere with the circulation of the war notes (such as rejection of payment, forgery, or spreading the untrue nature of news concerning the war notes of any kind) his act will be considered hostile and will be punished severely.
4. The war notes and existing currencies, and foreign currency will be prohibited from exportation and importation for a while.
5. Kinds and classes of the war notes will e as follows:
10 peso-note, 5 peso-note, and notes of 1 centavo, 5 centavo, 10 centavo, and 50 centavo.
This first Japanese invasion issue was of a general nature similar in many respects to other invasion issues prepared for conquered areas like Malaya, Burma and the Netherlands East Indies.
For this post, I will be showing those include in the first issue.
1 Centavo:
5 Centavos:
10 Centavos:
50 Centavos:
The notes of 50centavos and higher all show the same plantation scene on the face side.
1 Peso:
A 1 Peso was also issued though it is not mentioned in the Proclamation.
5 Pesos:
10 Pesos:
These notes seems to be produced in such large quantities that they became cheap. Even the higher denomination such as 500 Pesos and 1000 Pesos can be bought lower that its face value. I've seen bundles upon bundles of such notes being offered especially around Manila, from the worn and almost destroyed type, up to the desirable and uncirculated condition.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Cebu Province 1941 Provincial Issue
Reference: "Philippine emergency and guerrilla currency of World War II" by Shafer Neil.
Cebu is a long, narrow province in the central Philippines between Negros and Bohol. It was at Cebu City that the seat of government for the Philippine Commonwealth was established after the fall of Manila to Japanese forces at the end of 1941. Here the government authorized emergency paper currency, mostly to meet the expenses of sustaining its armed forces.
This issue is rather well printed and shows better techniques of currency manufacture. Many features are clearly defined. The 1 Peso was never hard to find except in choice condition. Most of the rest used to be more difficult to obtain until the big hoard appeared; since then just about all have been much more readily available, and generally in decent condition. Issuing body was the Cebu Currency Committee.
General Characteristics:
Face: Plate print, three printed signatures of the Committee as follows:
-S.C. Miranda, Actg. Manager P.N.B. Cebu, Chairman
-F.I. Reyes, Fiscal, Member
-R.T. del Bando, Auditor, Member
Lowest four values have one red printed serial number; the rest( 1 Peso and higher ) have two. Title is EMERGENCY CIRCULATING NOTE OF 1941.
Back: Plate print, place of issue and date shown.
Paper: Yellow for the four low values, rather heavy white for the rest.
What I'm going to share are only the larger denomination since I have not acquired yet the lower denominations which includes the 5c, 10c, 20c, and 50c.
1 Peso:
Size: 128/59mm.
Colors: Blue face, light orange back. Design of this note closely follows the 1917 PNB emergency note(refer for listings under PNB emergency note for info).
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
1920 50 Pesos
Today I'll be sharing another hard to find. Although this got major damage as you can see that it is already separated and only joined by an old tape.
The man on the portrait is Gen. Henry Ware Lawton.
According to Wikipedia, Henry Ware Lawton (March 17, 1843–1899) was a highly respected U.S. Army officer who served with distinction in the Civil War, Apache War, Spanish-American War and was the only U.S. general officer to be killed during the Philippine-American War. Lawton was very popular among his men and the general public and was so well-respected in the Philippines that his image appeared on Filipino currency during the 1920s(as a reference to this note shown).
This note reads: THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK WILL PAY THE BEARER ON DEMAND FIFTY PESOS IN LAWFUL CURRENCY OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. Series of 1920.