Owner Comments:
1922PM Culion Leper Colony One Peso (KM-17) (McFadden #769) Type ll - Curved Wing die variety. EX. Dr. Roger R. McFadden
All Culion Leper Colony coins were routinely disinfected by the Philippine Health Service. The caustic chemicals used in the disinfection process had an extremely deleterious effect on aluminum. By 1922 it was apparent that the Aluminum Cullion Leper Colony coinage of 1913 and 1920 were just not holding up and a more acid resistant alloy needed to be found. Starting in 1922 all Culion Leper Colony coins were struck in a Copper-Nickel alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
The obverse design of the1922PM Cullion Leper Colony One Peso features a caduceus as the central device and carries the inscriptions "PHILIPPINE HEALTH SERVICE" and the date "1922". The reverse has the denomination "1 PESO" as the central devise. The encircled monogram initials "PM" (for Philippine Mint) are stamped in incuse between the number "1" and the word "Peso". The incuse "PM" Mint Mark was most likely added by hand as there is considerable variation in the orientation and exact placement of the Mint Mark. The reverse inscriptions are "CULION LEPER COLONY" and "PHILIPPINE ISLANDS".
The 1922PM One Peso has two die varieties. Type l (KM-16) has a straight wing on the caduceus. The much rarer Type ll (KM-17) has a curved wing on the caduceus. This specimen is a Top Pop (Combined NGC/PCGS Population 2/0) example of the rare "Curved Wing" variety 1922PM Peso (KM-17). EX. Dr. Roger R. McFadden.
SPECIFICATIONS
Mint: U.S. Manila Mint
Mint Mark: Encircled monogram initials "PM" (for Philippine Mint) stamped in incuse on the reverse
Mintage: 8,280 (For all die varieties))
Composition: Copper-Nickel (75% Copper, 25% Nickel)
Diameter: 35.2mm