Quick Coinage Facts
Years Minted: 1903-1935
Composition: 90% silver, 10% copper (1903-06)
75% silver 25% copper (1907-35)
Diameter: 18.2 mm (1903-06)
16.8 mm (1907-35)
Weight: 2.69 grams, .0779 ounces silver (1903-06)
2.00 grams, .0482 ounces silver (1907-35)
Total Mintage: 27,806,000
Mints: Manila, Philadelphia and San Francisco
Introduction
The Philippines were transferred from Spain to the United States in the Treaty of Paris (1898), which closed the Spanish-American War.
The Tydings-McDuffie Independence Act of 1934 granted the Philippines Commonwealth status. The Act provided for complete independence of the islands in 1945 after 10 years of self-government under U.S. supervision.
Design
The obverse was designed by Melecio Figueroa and features a young Filipina in a flowing dress standing while striking an anvil with a hammer held in her right hand, her left arm is half raised and she holds an olive branch in her hand. In the background is the Mayon volcano with a billowing smoke coming from the crater. On the upper periphery of the coin is the denomination “TEN CENTAVOS” and on the lower periphery is the word “FILIPINAS”.
The reverse design features an eagle perched atop a shield with a banner below it which is inscribed “COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES.” On the outer periphery are the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and the year of issue. To the left of the year is the mint mark “S” for San Francisco or “M” for Manila, coins with no mint mark are from Philadelphia.
| Obverse | Reverse |
|---|---|
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Major Varieties
There are two major varieties for the series due to a change in silver content:
1903-1906 – 90% Silver
1907-1935 – 75% Silver
General Market Notes
The key to the series is the 1909-S issue while the semi-key is the 1915-S.
One coin to be on the alert for are any 1910-S issues. While historical records show that this coin was minted, none have surfaced. All coins dated 1910 or 1910-S are counterfeit