The United States Manila Mint: A Type Set of the Coins & Medals of America's Forgotten Mint
Culion Leper Colony - 1920 Issue (No Mint Mark) One Peso
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Coin Details
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
PHILIPPINES UNDER U.S. SOVEREIGNTY |
| Item Description: |
ALUMINUM PESO 1920 USA-PHIL CULION LEPER COLONY KM-15 |
| Full Grade: |
NGC AU 50 |
| Owner: |
JAA |
Owner Comments:
1920 was the first year that Culion Leper Colony coins were struck at the newly opened U.S. Manila Mint. The 1920 Culion Leper Colony issue consisted of Ten Centavos, Twenty Centavos, and One Peso coins, all of which were struck in aluminum.
The obverse design of the 1920 Cullion Leper Colony "1 Peso" consists of a caduceus, the words "BUREAU OF HEALTH" and the date "1920". The reverse has the denomination "1 PESO" and the words "CULION LEPER COLONY PHILIPPINE ISLANDS". The 1920 "1 Peso" carried no mint mark.
The aluminum Culion Leper Colony coins proved totally unsatisfactory due to rapid deterioration from the climatic conditions in the Philippines and the chemical disinfect (mercuric bichloride) used to disinfect leper colony money. Starting in 1922 all Leper Colony coinage would be struck in copper-nickel.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Mint: U.S. Manila Mint
Mint Mark: None
Mintage: 4,000
Catalog: KM-15
Composition: Aluminum
Diameter: 35.4 mm