Owner Comments:
KM-7 - Culion Leper Colony, Philippine Commission of Public Health - 1927PM 5 Centavo - Mintage: 16,000
Struck in Copper-Nickel with a diameter of 24.6mm.
McFadden #: 771
Basso #: 238
Shafer #: SL-14
This copper nickel coin is part of the fifth issue of coins for the Culion Leper Colony and was minted by the US branch mint in Manila, Philippines. The design is very similar to the 1925 Peso. The obverse is composed of the bust of Dr. José Rizal, one of the most revered heroes of the Philippines, and the legend "CULION LEPER COLONY - PHILIPPINE ISLANDS." The reverse is composed of the seal of the Philippine Health Service, the value, the date. As on the 1925 Peso, the mint is identified using the letter "PM" which stand for Philippine Mint. The letters appear on the reverse with the "P" beneath the star to the left of the date, and the "M" beneath the star to the right. The dies for this coin are very well executed by comparison to the majority of One Centavo coins issued this year.
There are no varieties reported for this issue/denomination.
Culion coinage was heavily used, and Krause doesn't even report prices for this coin above XF, so this example is probably typical of the upper end of what is still available. It is relatively well preserved with no major distracting marks. According to the literature, the Leper Colony money was disinfected with chemicals, so I am also pleased that it did not return from NGC with a details grade. As of this revision, NGC has graded only two with the other coin weighing in as an AU55.
Date acquired: 1/7/2013 (raw coin)
Date graded: 8/22/2013 (self submitted to NGC)
References:
• "United States Territorial Coinage for the Philippine Islands" by Neil Shafer, Whitman Publishing Company Racine, Wisconsin, 1961: 41-45
• "Coins, Medals and Tokens of the Philippines 1728-1974" by Aldo P. Basso, second edition Bookman Printing House, Quezon City, 1975: 76-80
• "The Numismatic Aspects of Leprosy" by R.R. McFadden, J. Grost, and D.F. Marr, D.C. McDonald Associates, Inc., 1993: 58-69
• "Standard Catalog of World Coins" by Krause & Mischler (Identifies coins by their "KM" number 1-18 and A5.)
Rev. 9/15/2013