JAA USA-Philippines Leper Coins
1920 PESO

Obverse:

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Reverse:

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Coin Details

Origin/Country: United States
Design Description: PHILIPPINES UNDER U.S. SOVEREIGNTY
Item Description: PESO 1920 USA-PHIL CULION LEPER COLONY
Full Grade: NGC AU 50
Owner: JAA

Owner Comments:

1920 was the first year that Culion Leper Colony coins were struck at the newly opened U.S. Manila Mint. The 1920 Culion Leper Colony issue consisted of Ten Centavos, Twenty Centavos, and One Peso coins, all of which were struck in aluminum.

The obverse design of the 1920 Cullion Leper Colony "1 Peso" consists of a caduceus, the words "BUREAU OF HEALTH" and the date "1920". The reverse has the denomination "1 PESO" and the words "CULION LEPER COLONY PHILIPPINE ISLANDS". The 1920 "1 Peso" carried no mint mark.

The aluminum Culion Leper Colony coins proved totally unsatisfactory due to rapid deterioration from the climatic conditions in the Philippines and the chemical disinfect (mercuric bichloride) used to disinfect leper colony money. Starting in 1922 all Leper Colony coinage would be struck in copper-nickel.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Mint: U.S. Manila Mint
Mint Mark: None
Mintage: 4,000
Catalog: KM-15
Composition: Aluminum
Diameter: 35.4 mm

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