U.S. Philippine 20 Centavos: 1903-1929

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Quick Coinage Facts

Years Minted: 1903-1929
Composition: 75% Silver
Diameter: 21 mm
Weight: 4.0 grams (1903-1906 5.384 grams)
Total Mintage: 22,094,000
Mints: Manila, Philadelphia, 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 “TWENTY CENTAVOS” and on the lower periphery is the word “FILIPINAS”.

The reverse design features an eagle perched atop a shield.   On the outer periphery are the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” and the year of issue.  To the left of the year may be a mint mark “M” Manila or “S” San Francisco. Coin with no mint marks were minted at the Philadelphia Mint.

Varieties

Variety 1: 1903-1906 – Silver Weight 0.1558 ounces
Variety 2: 1907-1929 – Silver Weight 0.0964 ounces

Obverse Reverse
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General Market Notes

There are no rarities in the series despite being U.S. coinage with incredibly low mintages. For an undervalued coin look for 1904 issues, with a mintage of only 11,000 it represents a bargain.

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