Rare Philippine 1 Peso Coins: 1907 & 1908 series

These coins are what I consider as our oldest family heirlooms.  These were handed down by my great grandmother to my grandmother who used it as wedding coins.  Then, when it was passed on to my mother, she did the same, using it as her wedding arras.


Brushing up on history, these 1 Peso Philippine coins from 1907 and 1908 were in circulation during the American occupation of the Philippines, in the so-called era of the Insular Government.  A governor general appointed by the US President was the overseer of this territorial form of government.


Thus, the front side of the coin bears an American emblem:

Rare Philippine 1 Peso coin circa 1907

Rare Philippine 1 Peso coin circa 1908

Rear view of rare Philippine 1 Peso coins circa 1907 and 1908:

Now these coins are in my safe-keeping.  These 1 Peso Philippine coins from 1907 and 1908, may be of value today, but for me they are priceless.

Project Runaway: Rare Philippine Five peso coin from the Bagong Lipunan series

P 5.00  Five Peso Philippine coin circa 1979

During the Marcos era, the Central Bank of the Philippines came up with what I can describe as more 'stylish' and 'glamorous' coins.  This piece of currency served like a vanity plate for President Ferdinand Marcos.   The original image model of the Philippine five peso bill was Emilio Aguinaldo.  But with this Bagong Lipunan collection, Marcos decided to shove the five peso bills aside, and replace it with shiny, shimmery and splendid coins.  The coins were literally heavy on the pocket.  They were almost twice as big and twice as heavy as the regular coins. 

These coins were in moderate circulation.  They were around pretty much during the mid-70s to the early 80s.

Rare Philippine Five pesos coins of the Bagong Lipunan series, strikes a pose!  My family's collection are from the years' 1975, 1978 and 1979: