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View Coin
| Half Centavo
1903 - 1908 |
United States
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BRONZE 1/2C 1908 USA-PHIL KM-162
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PCGS PF 67 RB
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Mint: Philadelphia
Mint Mark: None
Mintage: 500
Designer: Melicio Figueroa
Engraver: Charles Barber
Composition: Bronze
Weight: 2.6000g
Diameter: 17.5mm
Edge: Plain
This beautiful rainbow toned SUPERB GEM is from the "Just Having Fun Collection". The 1908 Half Centavo is a PROOF ONLY ISSUE with a mintage of only 500. The Combined NGC/PCGS population for this rare date in PF67 is only three specimens with none graded finer.
The Half Centavo was designed by Melicio Figueroa. The obverse design shows a young Filipino male seated next to an anvil holding a hammer in his right hand, his left arm raised, and in the background to his left is a billowing volcano. The reverse design depicts an eagle with spread wings perched atop an American shield.
Business strikes of the Half Centavo coin were struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1903 (12,084,000) and 1904 (5,654,000). The Half Centavo coin was poorly accepted by the public and no further business strikes of this denomination were made after 1904. For lack of use over 7,500,000 Half Centavos were withdrawn from circulation. Most of these were sent back to the United States where they were melted and then re-coined into One Centavo pieces in 1908. That leaves a little less than 60% of the origional total mintage still available to collectors today.
A limited number of Proof Half Centavos were produced at the Philadelphia mint from 1903 through 1906 and again in 1908. The mintage figures for proof Half Centavos is as follows:1903 (2,558), 1904 (1,355), 1905 (471), 1906 (500), and 1908 (500). The 1905, 1906, and 1908 Half Centavos were PROOF ONLY ISSUES.
NGC Population: 0/0 (8/14/2020)
PCGS Population: 3/0 (7/01/2024)
Combined NGC/PCGS Population: 3/0 (8/14/2020)
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View Coin
| One Centavo
1903 - 1908 |
United States
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BRONZE 1C 1905 USA-PHIL KM-163
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NGC PF 67 RB
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Specifications: Bronze (95% copper, 5% zinc and tin), 80 Grains (4.7000g), 24mm.
Mintage: 471
NGC Population in PF67: 1 PF67RB (None graded higher)
PCGS Population in PR67: 1 PR67RD (None graded higher)
The One Centavo was designed by Melicio Figueroa. The obverse design shows a young Filipino male seated next to an anvil holding a hammer in his right hand, his left arm raised, and in the background to his left is a billowing volcano. The reverse design depicts an eagle with spread wings perched atop an American shield. Business strikes using Figueroa's obverse and reverse designs were made at the Philadelphia Mint from 1903 through 1905, the San Francisco Mint from 1908 through 1920 and the Manila Mint from 1920 through 1936. The Manila mint was the only United States branch mint ever established outside the continental United States. A limited number of proof One Centavos were produced at the Philadelphia mint from 1903 through 1906 and again in 1908.
The 1905 Proof One Centavo had a mintage of only 471, which is the lowest mintage in the Proof One Centavo series. This beautiful SUPERB GEM PROOF is literally in a class by itself as it is the only 1905 Proof One Centavo that NGC has graded in this lofty grade and no specimens have been graded higher. This specimen is fully reflective and 75% red with attractive green, pink, and sky blue toning.
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View Coin
| Five Centavos
1903 - 1908 |
United States
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COPPER-NICKEL 5C 1908 USA-PHIL KM-164
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NGC PF 66
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Copper-Nickel, 77.16 Grains, 20.5 mm. The 1903 through 1928 Five Centavos have the same obverse and reverse design as the Half Centavo and One Centavo coins. Business strikes were made at the Philadelphia Mint in 1903 and 1904, the San Francisco Mint from 1916 through 1919, and the Manila Mint from 1920 through 1928. A limited number of proof Five Centavos coins were made at the Philadelphia Mint from 1903 through 1908.
The 1908 Proof Five Centavos is a PROOF ONLY ISSUE with a mintage of 500 coins. The NGC population for this coin in PF66 is seven coins with only one specimen graded higher. The combined (NGC, PCGS, ANACS) certified population for the 1908 Five Centavos in PF66 is Twenty-nine coins with only two specimens graded higher. This PF66 Five Centavos is a beautifully toned SUPERB GEM.
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View Coin
| Ten Centavos
1903 - 1906 |
United States
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SILVER 10C 1906 USA-PHIL EX. DR. GREG PINEDA KM-165
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PCGS PF 66
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This beautiful specimen from the Dr. Greg Pineda Collection is evenly and beautifully blue toned on the obverse, and has more brilliant but lovely shades of golden toning on the reverse. An exquisite offering of a rare coin.
The obverse design by Melicio Figueroa features a young Filipino woman standing to the right in a flowing dress while striking an anvil with a hammer held in her right hand, the left hand is raised and holding an olive branch. In the background is a billowing volcano. The reverse design, also by Melicio Figueroa, depicts an eagle with spread wings perched atop an American shield. At a weight of 2.69 Grams of .900 Silver the Large (17.5 mm) Ten Centavos, minted from 1903 through 1906 had a silver content equal to the U.S. Barber Dime. With an official exchange rate of two Philippine Pesos to one U.S. dollar it was not long before the value of the silver content in the Large Ten Centavos exceeded its face value and many were melted during the great silver melts of the period. Lyman Allen estimates that less than 20% of all 1903-1906 silver coinages exist today in any grade.
Business strikes of the Large Ten Centavos were coined at the Philadelphia Mint in 1903 and 1904 and the San Francisco Mint in 1903 and 1904. Proofs of the Large Ten Centavos were made in very limited quantities at the Philadelphia Mint from 1903 through 1906.
Proof sets were not sold in any sort of protective packaging or cases but were contained in plain paper envelopes and each coin was wrapped individually in thin tissue paper. This method of packaging has contributed to the micro thin hairline scratches seen on most proof coins as well as the heavy toning often seen. GEM proof coins are very scarce.
The 1906 Ten Centavos is a PROOF ONLY ISSUE with a mintage of only 500 coins. The combined NGC/PCGS Population is 17/14 (NGC Population 5/4, PCGS Population 19/15 [7/1/2024])
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View Coin
| Twenty Centavos
1903 - 1906 |
United States
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SILVER 20C 1906 USA-PHIL KM-166
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NGC PF 66
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Mintage: 500
Composition: Silver
Fineness: 0.9000
Weight: 5.3849g
ASW: 0.1558oz
Edge: Reeded
The obverse design by Melicio Figueroa features a young Filipino woman standing to the right in a flowing dress while striking an anvil with a hammer held in her right hand, the left hand is raised and holding an olive branch. In the background is a billowing volcano. The reverse design, also by Melicio Figueroa, depicts an eagle with spread wings perched atop an American shield.
The Large (23 mm) Twenty Centavos minted from 1903 through 1906 had a weight of 5.385 Grams of .900 Silver. With an official exchange rate of two Philippine Pesos to one U.S. dollar it was not long before the value of the silver content in the Large Twenty Centavos exceeded its face value and many were melted during the great silver melts of the period. In 1906 the silver coins held in reserve by the Treasury to back the Philippine paper money then in circulation were exported to the U.S. for re-coinage into the reduced size and weight pieces which followed in 1907. Lyman Allen estimates that less than 20% of all 1903-1906 silver coinages exist today in any grade.
Business strikes were coined at the Philadelphia Mint in 1903 and 1904 and the San Francisco Mint from 1903 through 1905. Proofs of the Large Twenty Centavos were made in very limited quantities at the Philadelphia Mint from 1903 through 1906. Proof sets were not sold in any sort of protective packaging or cases but were contained in plain paper envelopes and each coin was wrapped individually in thin tissue paper. This method of packaging has contributed to the micro thin hairline scratches seen on most proof coins as well as the heavy toning often seen. GEM proof specimens are very scarce.
The 1906 Twenty Centavos is a PROOF ONLY ISSUE with a mintage of only 500 specimens. This Superb Gem has mirror fields with gray and iridescent blue toning.
NGC Population: 5/8
PCGS Population: 7/12
Combined NGC/PCGS Population: 12/20
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View Coin
| Fifty Centavos
1903 - 1906 |
United States
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SILVER 50C 1905 USA-PHIL KM-167
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NGC PF 67
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Mintage: 471 (PROOF ONLY ISSUE)
Composition: Silver
Fineness: 0.9000
Weight: 13.4784g
ASW: 0.3900oz
Diameter: 30 mm
Edge: Reeded
The 1903 - 1906 Fifty Centavos was designed by Filipino artist Melicio Figueroa. The obverse design features a young Filipino woman standing to the right in a flowing dress while striking an anvil with a hammer held in her right hand. Her left hand is raised and holding an olive branch. In the background is a billowing volcano. The reverse design depicts an eagle with spread wings perched atop an American shield.
At a weight of 13.4784 Grams of .900 Silver (ASW: 0.3900oz) the Large (30 mm) Fifty Centavos, minted from 1903 through 1906 had a silver content equal to the U.S. Barber Half Dollar. With an official exchange rate of two Philippine Pesos to one U.S. dollar it was not long before the value of the silver content in the Large Fifty Centavos exceeded its face value and many were melted during the great silver melts of the period. In order to prevent the melting and export of U.S. Philippine silver coins the weight, and fineness of all four silver denominations was reduced in 1907. It is estimated that less than 20% of all 1903-1906 silver coinages exist today in any grade.
Business strikes of the large Fifty Centavos were coined at the Philadelphia Mint in 1903 and 1904 and the San Francisco Mint from 1903 through 1905. Proofs of the Large Fifty Centavos were made in very limited quantities at the Philadelphia Mint from 1903 through 1906.
The 1905 U.S. Philippine Proof Set had a minuscule mintage of only 471 sets making it the lowest mintage U.S. Philippines Proof Set. In the early Twentieth Century Proof sets were not sold in any sort of protective packaging or cases but were contained in plain paper envelopes and each coin was wrapped individually in thin tissue paper. This method of packaging has contributed to the micro thin hairline scratches seen on most proof coins as well as the heavy toning often seen. Of the original mintage of 471 few remain in their original pristine condition and SUPERB GEM examples are exceptionally rare.
This SUBERB GEM (PF67) specimen is among the finest certified examples of this rare date. NGC has graded only four coins in this lofty grade with none graded higher. PCGS has graded four 1905 Fifty Centavos in PR67 with none graded higher.
This specimen has absolutely fantastic eye appeal with brilliant iridescent Bronze, Peacock Blue, and Purple toning, over pristine mirror surfaces.
Heritage Auctions describes this specimen as a "stunning example of this Proof-only issue. Spectacular, gleaming, multi-hued surfaces, with fully struck devices and no notable imperfections. A small mintage of only 471 pieces. None have been certified finer by either NGC or PCGS."
Ex. Heritage 2013 January 6-7 Ancient & World Coin Signature Auction - New York #3021, Lot #22440
NGC Population: 4/0
PCGS Population: 6/2 (7/01/2024)
Combined NGC/PCGS Population: 8/0
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View Coin
| One Peso
1903 - 1906 |
United States
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SILVER PESO 1904 USA-PHIL KM-168
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PCGS PF 65
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Mintage: 1,355
Composition: Silver
Fineness: 0.9000
Weight: 26.9568g
ASW: 0.7800oz
Without a doubt the Large Peso is the "King" of the USA/Philippines Type Set. The large 38 mm size of this coin showcases the beautiful obverse design of Melicio Figueroa which features a young Filipino woman standing to the right in a flowing dress while striking an anvil with a hammer held in her right hand, the left hand is raised and holding an olive branch. In the background is a billowing volcano. The reverse design depicts an eagle with spread wings perched atop an American shield. At a weight of 26.9568 Grams of .900 Silver (ASW .78000 oz) the Large Peso, minted from 1903 through 1906 had a silver content equal to the U.S. Morgan Dollar.
With an official exchange rate of two Philippine Pesos to one U.S. dollar it was not long before the value of the silver content in the Large Peso exceeded its face value and many were melted during the great silver melts of the period. In 1906 the Silver Pesos held in reserve by the Treasury to back the Philippine paper money then in circulation were exported to the U.S. for re-coinage into the reduced size and weight pieces which followed in 1907.
The weight and size of this coin made it particularly prone to bag marks so Choice BU and GEM BU specimens of business strikes are a challenge to collect. Business strikes were coined at the Philadelphia Mint in 1903 and 1904 and the San Francisco Mint from 1903 through 1906.
Proof Large Pesos were made in very limited quantities at the Philadelphia Mint from 1903 through 1906. Proof sets were not sold in any sort of protective packaging or cases but were contained in plain paper envelopes and each coin was wrapped individually in thin tissue paper. This method of packaging has contributed to the micro thin hairline scratches seen on most proof coins as well as the heavy toning often seen. Choice and GEM proof coins are very scarce.
This gorgeous GEM is lightly toned with full reflectivity and unblemished fields.
PCGS Population: 12/15
NGC Population: 6/5
Combined NGC/PCGS Population: 18/20
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View Coin
| Ten Centavos, Reduced Size & Weight - 1908 |
United States
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SILVER 10C 1908 USA-PHIL KM-169
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PCGS PF 66
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Mintage: 500
Catalog: KM-169
Composition: Silver
Fineness: 0.7500
Weight: 2.0000g
ASW: 0.0482oz
Edge: Reeded
The 1908 Ten Centavos is a PROOF ONLY ISSUE with a mintage of only 500 specimens.
In 1907 a rise in the price of silver forced the reduction of the fineness and weight for all Philippine silver issues. The silver Ten Centavos was reduced in fineness from .900 silver, 2.69 Grams to .750 silver, 2.0 Grams, and the diameter was reduced from 17.5 mm to 16.5 mm. The obverse and reverse designs of the 1908 Ten Centavos is the same as the 1903 through 1907 Ten Centavos.
The 1908 Ten Centavos is very desirable as a type coin as it is the only year that the Reduced Size & Weight Ten Centavos was struck in Proof. This PR66 specimen has wonderful eye appeal. It is fully reflective with attractive iridescent blue and gold toning. Great eye appeal and high numerical grade made this specimen one of the finest surviving examples of this ONE YEAR ONLY PROOF TYPE COIN.
NGC Population: 8/0
PCGS Population: 18/9 (7/01/2024))
Combined NGC/PCGS Population: 22/5
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View Coin
| Twenty Centavos, Reduced Size & Weight - 1908 |
United States
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SILVER 20C 1908 USA-PHIL KM-170
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NGC PF 65
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.750 Silver, 4.0 Grams, 20 mm.
The obverse and reverse designs of the 1907 through 1929 Twenty Centavos are the same as the 1903 through 1906 Twenty Centavos.
In 1907 a rise in the price of silver forced the reduction of the fineness and weight for all Philippine silver issues. The silver Twenty Centavos was reduced in fineness from .900 silver, 5.385 Grams to .750 silver, 4.0 Grams, and the diameter was reduced from 23 mm to 20 mm. Business strikes of the reduced size and weight Twenty Centavos were struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1907, the San Francisco Mint from 1907 through 1919, and the Manila Mint from 1920 through 1929. Proof reduced size and weight Twenty Centavos were struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1908.
The 1908 Twenty Centavos is a PROOF ONLY ISSUE with a mintage of 500 coins. The NGC population of the 1908 Twenty Centavos in PF65 is eight coins with nine specimens graded higher. The combined (NGC, PCGS, ANACS) certified population for this coin is 22/18.
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View Coin
| Fifty Centavos, Reduced Size & Weight - 1908 |
United States
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SILVER 50C 1908 USA-PHIL KM-171
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NGC PF 66
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Mintage: 500 (PROOF ONLY ISSUE)
NGC Population: 4/1; PCGS Population: 10/4
Composition: Silver
Fineness: 0.7500
Weight: 10.0000g
ASW: 0.2411oz
Diameter: 27mm
Edge: Reeded
The obverse and reverse designs of the 1907 through 1921 Fifty Centavos are the same as the 1903 through 1906 Fifty Centavos.
When the standards for the coinage system in the Philippine Islands was established in 1903 the Actual Silver Weight (ASW) of the four denominations of silver coins was set relatively high compared to the coins face value. By 1905 rising silver prices brought the bullion value of Philippine silver coins to the level where they were beginning to disappear from circulation. By November 1906 the melt value of Philippine silver coins had risen to 13.2% over their face value. Laws prohibiting the melting and export of silver coins proved largely ineffective and something had to be done. In December 1906 the U.S. Congress passed an Act "for the purpose of preventing the melting and exportation of the silver coins of the Philippine Islands as a result of the high price of silver". The Act reduced the weight and fineness of Philippine silver coins. The silver Fifty Centavos was reduced in fineness from .900 silver, 13.48 Grams to .750 silver, 10.0 Grams, and the diameter was reduced from 30 mm to 27 mm.
Authority was also granted to recall from circulation and banks what silver coins were yet in the Islands and ship them back to the United States for re-coining into pieces of lesser fineness. Business strikes of the Reduced Size and Weight Fifty Centavos were struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1907, the San Francisco Mint from 1907 through 1919, and the Manila Mint in 1920 and 1921.
Since U.S. mints had to replace nearly all of the Islands silver coinage in 1907 it was not felt that there were enough resources to make 1907 Proof Sets. When Proof Set production resumed in 1908 all of the silver coins were struck in the newly authorized reduced weight and fineness. The 1908 Fifty Centavos is a PROOF ONLY ISSUE with a mintage of only 500 specimens. 1908 was the last year of issue for U.S. Philippine Proof Sets and the only year that the Reduced Size and Weight Fifty Centavos was produced in Proof.
The 1908 Fifty Centavos is perhaps the most difficult U.S. Philippine Proof coin to find in high numerical grade and attractive eye appeal.
Near Superb Gem and Superb Gem examples of this date and denomination are extremely rare and until recently PF66 was the highest grade certified by either NGC or PCGS. As of this date (2/16/2015) NGC has certified a meager four specimens in PF66 and only one specimen in PF67. PCGS has certified slightly more with ten specimens in PR66 and three in PR67. While the combined NGC/PCGS population in PF66 is officially listed as 14/4 this figure is most likely overinflated by resubmissions.
In the past decade I have never seen a PF67 example of this date offered in a major auction and appearances of PF66 specimens are few and far between. Since 2007 know of only four auction appearances of 1908 Fifty Centavos in PF66. Three of these have been for the specimen in this Registry Set.
Ex. Heritage 2009 September Long Beach, CA Signature World Coin Auction #3096. Lot #21678
Ex. Stacks Bowers and Ponterio, The August 2013 Chicago ANA World's Fair of Money Auction - Session D, World Crowns & Minors, Lot #13303.
Ex. Cookie Jar Collectibles, Philippine Mail Bid Sale XIX, February-March 2014, Lot #500.
Proof examples of the1908 Fifty Centavos typically lack the eye appeal that is seen in other U.S. Philippine Proof coins of their grade. Even in the higher grades they typically lack the bold strike and brilliant mirror surfaces normally expected in a GEM Proof. Strike issues are most evident in the lack of detail in the central figures hair and the first two digits of the date. Most experts believe that the 1908 Fifty Centavos was struck from rusty dies. Many of the surviving 1908 Fifty Centavos have a milky appearance perhaps due to being struck on improperly polished planchets.
This specimen has superior eye appeal for the date and denomination and may well be the most attractive surviving example of this rare U.S. Philippine Proof. Both the obverse and reverse is beautifully toned in pastel hues of light peach and sky blue over fully original brilliant mirror surfaces. A truly beautiful coin.
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View Coin
| One Peso, Reduced Size & Weight - 1908 |
United States
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SILVER PESO 1908 USA-PHIL KM-172
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PCGS PF 66
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Mintage: 500 (PROOF ONLY ISSUE)
Composition: Silver
Fineness: 0.8000
Weight: 20.0000g
ASW: 0.5144oz
Edge: Reeded
The obverse and reverse designs of the 1907 through 1912 Peso are the same as the 1903 through 1906 Peso.
In 1907 a rise in the price of silver forced the reduction of the fineness and weight for all Philippine silver issues. The silver Peso was reduced in fineness from .900 silver, 26.95 Grams to .800 silver, 20.0 Grams, and the diameter was reduced from 38 mm to 35 mm.
Business strikes of the reduced size and weight Peso were struck at the San Francisco Mint from 1907 through 1912. In 1942 about 16 million Pesos in silver coins were crated and thrown into the sea near Corregidor to avoid seizure by the invading forces of Japan. The majority of these coins were 1907 through 1912 Pesos that were being stored for use as backing for the paper money then in circulation. Since the war over 10 million Pesos have been salvaged however these sea salvaged coins are typically heavily corroded from their long immersion in salt water
Five-hundred Proof specimens of the reduced size and weight Peso were struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1908. Since 1908 was the last year of production for U.S. Philippines Proof Sets the 1908 Peso has the distinction of being a one year Proof type coin.
This specimen is handsomely toned in dominant olive-gold and charcoal-blue. Glints of brick red are also evident here and there around the obverse periphery. A gorgeous Gem with solid technical quality and eye appeal to spare this specimen is a stellar example of the reduced size proof peso.
PCGS Population: 11/9 (PCGS Condition Census)
NGC Population: 7/1
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