Owner Comments:
KM-13 - Culion Leper Colony, Philippine Commission of Public Health - 1922PM 20 Centavos - Mintage: 10,155
Struck in Copper-Nickel with a diameter of 31.8mm.
McFadden #: 763 - Type I with normal date
McFadden #: 764 - Type II with recut date (this coin)
Basso #: 234
Shafer #: SL-10
This coin was part of the third series of coins issued for use in the Culion Leper Colony. It was minted by the US branch mint in Manila, Philippines and bears the "PhM" mint mark which is actually a small circular counter stamp applied to the center of the obverse of the coin. The design is very similar to the coins issued in 1913 and 1920, but unlike the previous two issues, these coins were minted in Copper-Nickel. The obverse is composed of the denomination surrounded by the text "CULION LEPER COLONY" and "PHILIPPINE ISLANDS." The reverse consists of a rather crude rendering of a Caduceus as the central element surrounded by the words "BUREAU OF HEALTH," two separating stars and the date. All of the reference sources (except McFadden) designate the obverse and reverse this way, but NGC places the reverse facing the front of the holder. I personally prefer the NGC designation, but will go with the majority of reference books for consistency.
Varieties:
The references are a bit unclear on exactly how many varieties exist for this coin. Krause lists this coin with only one number but indicates that it may be found struck on both thick and think planchets. McFadden mentions nothing about think or thin planchets, but does differentiate between coins with recut and normal dates, assigning a distinct number to each. Shafer and Basso identify no varieties for this date/denomination. Given this lack of definitive information, there could be as many a four distinct variations.
This coin appears to have a recut date, but I have not seen a large enough quantity of coins to be able to tell if this particular coins was struck on a thick or thin planchet. The 9 and second 2 in the date do exhibit a noticeable doubling, but then again so do the initial "PH" in PHILIPPINE and the final "E" in SERVICE on the reverse. That final "E" actually appears for have been struck a second time using a letter "F" punch. On the obverse, the "C" in CENTAVOS appears to be recut over a much smaller underlying letter "C" The "PhM" mint counter stamp was struck so hard on this coin that it impacted the elements of the reverse. The wear on this coin is substantial, and there are a couple of distracting marks which probably accounts for the VF35 grade. As of this revision, this is the only example of this issue/denomination to have been graded by NGC.
Date acquired: 1/2/2010 (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" numbers 1-18 and A5.)
Rev. 9/15/2013