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- Jul 20, 2012
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It is a one peso coin, minted for circulation in the Philippines, which was a US territory at that time. I usually use this coin for a history quiz, which very very few people pass. I show the reverse with the United States of America, and I show the obverse with One Peso, but while covering the Filipinas at the bottom. No one seems to know why the US would be minting pesos for circulation. I then lead them along...Remember the Maine...then Dewey defeating the Spanish Navy in Manila Bay in 1898.
The first coinage (1903-1906) was larger, but with rising silver prices they soon discovered that the coins were worth more than face value, so the size and composition were reduced starting in 1907. I think these are some of the nicest designs ever done by the US. The obverse was designed by a Filipino. You can find plenty of these on the big auction site. And a fair number have either heavy corrosion or are severely cleaned to remove the corrosion because the entire contents of the Manila mint vault were dumped in Manila Bay at the beginning of WWII to prevent its capture by the Japanese. After the war they were able to salvage most of it.
I thought it would be appropriate to get pictures with a traditional filipino bolo that I bought in Banaue, home of the rice terraces:
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I was already aware of the history, but I never saw a coin like that before until now. Thanks a lot for sharing!
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