Owner Comments:
KM-16 - Culion Leper Colony, Philippine Commission of Public Health - 1922PM 1 Peso (Straight Wing Variety) - Mintage: 8,280 (includes both varieties)
Struck in Copper-Nickel, diameter 35.2mm
McFadden #: 765
Basso #: (235)
Shafer #: SL-11
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.
The majority of the 8,280 coins were minted with straight wings on the Caduceus (KM#16), but a small number were minted from another die pair, the most notable feature of which is curved wings on the Caduceus (KM #17). All were well circulated, and many surviving specimens have been harshly cleaned. High grade specimens (AU and above) must be virtually nonexistent since Krause does net even provide pricing for grades above XF.
I feel very lucky to have acquired this specimen in XF40 which surprisingly still contains a hint of the original mint luster in the fields.
Varieties
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KM-16 - (commonly known as the Straight Wing Variety) Obverse: The "P" in PESO is immediately above the third "I" in PHILIPPINES; Reverse: Upper edge of the Caduceus wing is straight and the base of the Caduceus staff points to the first "2" in 1922.
KM-17 - (commonly known as the Curved Wing Variety) Obverse: The "P" in PESO is immediately above the third "P" in PHILIPPINES, and the "C" in CULION is strongly doubled. Reverse: Upper edge of the Caduceus wing is curved and the base of the Caduceus staff points to the space between the "9" and "2" in 1922.
Date acquired: 3/3/2011 (Already graded by 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. 12/24/2015