1. American Period

2. After the United States took control of
the Philippines, the United States
Congress passed the Philippine Coinage
Act (March 3, 1903), established the unit
of currency to be a theoretical gold peso
(not coined) consisting of 12.9 grains of
gold 0.900 fine , equivalent to ₱2,933.07
modern pesos of as of 22 December
2010

3. In 1901, America defeated Spain and took
over the country. The Philippine Coinage
Act was passed by the US Congress. It
authorized the production of silver coins
from 1903 to 1912. These coins were
minted from the Philadelphia, San
Francisco and Denver mints. The coin was
designed by a young Filipino artist named
Melecio Figueroa.

5. Silver certificates were issued until 1918,
later replaced with Treasury Certificates
from 1918 to 1935. Because of high cost of
minting and transportation, the American
government decided to re-open the Manila
mint in 1920. The mint produced coins
until the Commonwealth government.
Notable coins during this period are those
issued for use within the Culion Leper
Colony.

7. Obverse: Lady Liberty striking an anvil with a hammer with a volcano
(Mt. Mayon) erupting in the background, "One Peso", "Filipinas"
Reverse: arms of the US Territories, "United States of America", year
mark
Shape: round
Edge: reeded
Material: silver
Designer: Melecio Figueroa

8. Obverse: Lady Liberty striking an anvil with a hammer with a volcano (Mt. Mayon)
erupting in the background, "Ten Centavos", "Filipinas"
Reverse: arms of the US Territories, "United States of America", year mark
Shape: round
Edge: reeded
Diameter: 11.0mm
Material: silver
Designer: Melecio Figueroa

9. Obverse: figure of a man seated beside an anvil and holding a hammer with a volcano
(Mt. Mayon) erupting in the background, "Five Centavos", "Filipinas"
Reverse: arms of the US Territories, "United States of America", year mark
Shape: round
Edge: plain
Diameter: 21.2 mm (1903-28)
19mm (1930-45)
Weight: 77.16 grains (1903-28)
75.16 grains (1930-45)
Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel (1903-41),
65% copper, 12% nickel, 23% zinc (1944-45)
Designer: Melecio Figueroa

10. The dimensions of this coin
were changed in 1930. When
the size of the 20 centavo coin
was reduced, it had about the
same size as the 5 centavo coin.
Because of the losses because
of the confusion between the
two coins, the 5 centavo coin
was reduced in size.

11. Obverse: figure of a man seated beside an anvil and holding a hammer with a
volcano (Mt. Mayon) erupting in the background, "Five Centavos", "Filipinas"
Reverse: arms of the US Territories, "United States of America", year mark
Shape: round
Edge: plain
Material: copper
Diameter: 24mm
Weight: 40 grains
Composition: 95% copper, 5% zinc and tin (1903-1941); 95% copper, 5% zinc
(1903-1941)
Designer: Melecio Figueroa

12. Obverse: figure of a man seated beside an anvil and holding a hammer
with a volcano (Mt. Mayon) erupting in the background, "Five Centavos",
"Filipinas"
Reverse: arms of the US Territories, "United States of America", year mark
Shape: round
Edge: plain
Material: copper
Diameter: 17.8mm
Weight: 30 grains
Composition: 95% copper, 5% zinc and tin
Designer: Melecio Figueroa