Owner Comments:
This coin is the first silver one peso coin minted specifically for the Philippines. It bears the name of the Philippines at the time--Islas Filipinas. Unfortunately, it was also the last of the Spanish-Philippines coins, because a year after these coins were minted, Spain lost the Philippines to the United States of America.
The obverse bears the left facing portrait of King Alfonso XIII as a young boy. Around the perimeter are the inscriptions, "ALFONSO XIII P.L.G.D.D." (Por La Gracia de Dios or For the Grace of God in English) "REY C." (King Constitutional) "DE ESPANA" (of Spain). Below the bust is the coin's date, "1897" between two five-pointed stars (the mint of Madrid's symbol). The coin's engraver was Bartolomé Maura y Montaner and you can see his initials "B.M." right under the neck of the bust.
The coin's reverse features the Coat of Arms of Spain, with the inscriptions "ISLAS FILIPINAS" around the top periphery, and "UN PESO" on the bottom. Included on the reverse are the initials of the assayers, Arturo Sandoval and Antonio Garcia Gonzales "S.G.", which can be found on the left side near the denticles. On the right side near the denticles is another initial, "V" and belongs to Remigio Vega Vega, the weight-master or balance judge.
The Spanish Coat of Arms used in this coin is the one used (1875) when the Bourbons were restored with Alfonso XII of Spain. It consists of an Escutcheon (shield) divided into four quarters, with an inescutcheon (smaller escutcheon superimposed) in the center, a point at the bottom, and the Spanish Royal Crown as the crest on top. The supporters consist of the Pillars of Hercules surrounded by a ribbon with the Motto 'Plus Ultra' written on it.
The images depicted on each quarter of the shield are, from 1st quarter (top left): A castle representing the Kingdom of Castille; 2nd quarter (top right): A lion rampant (rearing up) representing the Kingdom of Leon; 3rd quarter (bottom left): Vertical bands representing the Crown of Aragon; and 4th quarter (bottom right): Golden chains with an emerald in the center representing the Kingdom of Navarre.
Superimposed on the main shield is a smaller shield with three three fleur-de-lis, representing the House of Bourbon. At the main shield's bottom point, or ente en point, is a two-branched pomegranate plant with fruit and two branches. The pomegranate is known as a granada in Spanish. This symbol represents the Kingdom of Granada.
The Pillars of Hercules are an ancient name given to the Strait of Gibraltar. The motto "Plus Ultra" means 'further beyond' in Latin.
Finally, a crown sits above the main shield. It is adorned with precious stones: Eight rosettes (five which are visible), and eight pearls interspersed, closed at the top by eight diamonds also adorned with pearls and surmounted by a cross on a globe. This represents the Spanish Royal Crown.
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This is a nice coin that shows no trace of wear. Its design elements are well-struck and it possesses brilliant color with vibrant cartwheel luster throughout. It has a few light contact marks on each side, but retains a strong eye appeal despite the relatively light cleaning it went through some time ago. I acquired this specimen already graded.
⚙️ Coin Specifications and Information
Composition: Silver
Fineness: 0.9000
Weight: 25.0000 g
ASW: 0.7234 oz
Diameter: 37 mm
Edge: Ornaments (27 Fleurs-de-lis)
Alignment: ⬆️ ⬇️
Mintage:
KM# 154
📆 This Year In Philippine History
In March 22, 1897, the Tejeros Convention, also known as the Tejeros Assembly and the Tejeros Congress, was held in San Francisco de Malabon, Cavite, (now General Trias) Philippines.
The meeting was between Katipunan factions of Magdiwang and Magdalo. It resulted in the creation of a new revolutionary government that took charge of the Philippine Revolution, replacing the Katipunan. It followed on a previous meeting now known as the Imus Assembly. Filipino historians consider the first presidential and vice presidential elections in Philippine history to have been held at this convention, although only Katipuneros (members of the Katipunan) were able to take part, and not the general populace.
The revolutionary leaders called the convention to discuss the defense of Cavite against the Spaniards during the Philippine Revolution. Instead of focusing on the defense of the province, the convention became an election to decide the leaders of the revolutionary movement. Additionally, the issue of governance within the Katipunan and of the revolutionary effort, which was the cause of the escalating tension between the Magdalo and Magdiwang forces of Cavite, needed to be settled once and for all.
Bonifacio presided over the election as chairman of the convention. He secured the unanimous approval of the assembly that the decisions would not be questioned, and the winners be respected regardless of their stations in life or educational attainment.
Emilio Aguinaldo was elected president, with Mariano Trias as his Vice-President.
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📖 Information sources:
Wikipedia contributors. (2020, June 2). Sheldon coin grading scale. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 12:30, November 25, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sheldon_coin_grading_scale&oldid=960391269
NGC, World Coin Price Guide, Philippines Coin Price Guide (Powered by NumisMaster), Retrieved 1400, July 25, 2022, from https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/philippines-peso-km-154-1897-cuid-1112353-duid-1519321
Numista Coin Catalog. Coins from Philippines. Retrieved 1410, July 25, 2022, from https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces15891.html
Wikipedia contributors. (2022, October 11). Tejeros Convention. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 12:27, October 15, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tejeros_Convention&oldid=1115394673