Tobacco history in the Philippines is intertwined with
wealth and money. During the Spanish colonial times, the tobacco monopoly successfully raised
revenues for the government and made Philippine tobacco famous all
over Asia. The government exported the
tobacco to other countries and also part of it to the cigarette and cigar factories in
Manila.
Among the non-food crops, tobacco is the most widely
grown commercially, thus, contributing a sizable amount to the economy. Up to
now, tobacco continues to dominate the agricultural, economic, social, and
political life in the region growing it. The tobacco industry is a major
force in the development of these areas, especially in Ilocos and Cagayan, which became a source of power and money for those who control it.
This is the reason why we would see money designs on some
of the turn-of-the-century cigarette wrappers.
As a numismatist (collector of coins and banknotes) I love to see the artistry
incorporating our money with the design of these vintage cigarette labels.
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| CONANT Hebra Entre -Fuerte. Nice cigarette wrapper designed like a Philippine money |
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| ANG MGA KAIBIGAN - ISABELA PURA. Poem by CUA-TICO on the side. Philippine coin design on the right. |
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| DOS NINOS - BETIS PAMPANGA featuring the Philippine coinage during the American period |
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| SALAPI NG FILIPINAS cigarette wrapper with a patriotic poem |
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MONEDA FILIPINA cigarette wrapper. featuring a lady with a hammer and a bald eagle on an American shield which is similar to the design of US-Philippine coinage. Philippine artist Melecio Figueroa was enlisted to provide
the designs for the coinage, creating a standing woman design for the silver
denomination coins, which have been modeled on his daughter Bianca.
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| MONEDA FILIPINA Cigarette Wrapper. Similar to the design on top with some color and graphic variations. |
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| The US-Philippine coins were designed by Melecio Figueroa, a Filipino artist living in California, and struck in the U.S. Bureau of the
Mint. The silver coins minted between 1903 and 1912 were made of
silver. |
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| MANIAMAN Simeon Roque. Featuring the US Philippines 5 centavos and the design is similar to the 10 Pesos BPI banknote. |
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| Bank of the Philippine Islands 10 Pesos banknote. |
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| 5 Centavos US-Philippine coin with a seated man and volcano in the background. This was also designed by Melecio Figueroa. |
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| MASALI HEBRA. Nice cigarette wrapper with a design similar to the 1908 El Banco Espanol Filipino Cinco Pesos banknote. |
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| 1908 El Banco Espanol Filipino Cinco Pesos banknote |
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| PICABURIAN HEBRA. Nice cigarette wrapper with a design similar to the 20 Pesos Treasury Philippine banknote. |
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| 1918 20 Pesos Treasury Certificate banknote. |
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| ANG MANGA PUSO - PRUDENCIO MENDIOLA. Featuring the Sacred Heart of Mary and the reverse of the 1897 UN PESO coin |
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| EL PACIFICADOR TAMPOY - GREGORIA VASQUEZ. Featuring the young King Alfonso XIII similar to the 1897 UN PESO coin |
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1897 UN PESO bore the profile of the young Alfonso XIII,
with the reverse side marked ISLAS
FILIPINAS
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| EL CARPINTERO - ALBERTO BATAC. Showing a Filipino carpenter and the reverse of a Mexican Peso Coin. |
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The New Mexican republic minted this Un Peso silver coin that was
introduced between 1867 and 1900. The obverses featured the Mexican 'eagle' and
the legend "Republica Mexicana."
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| EL TORO - NICANOR GOSUM . Featuring a bull and foreign currencies on the right side |
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| LA HOJA PURA, featuring a seated lady with a torch, at the bottom are coins of different nations. |
AMAZING! I would love to see these! can't wait to compare notes. Michelle
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle, Let us compare notes, I would like to see what you have. Ed
Deletewhat an expensive and worthy collection..thanks for sharing these with us.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dennis.... I will be sharing more cigarette art labels in the future.
Deletewow.. this is what i call a collection! btw am the owner of the world thru postcards. thanks for linking to my blog. i envy your old postcard collection. id love to see and share our passion of anything filipiniana..
ReplyDeleteHi filipino deltiologist, I have been following your blog, like you I am a postcard collector. I have posted some of my PCs here in this site. I would like to share more cards in the future. Thanks for stopping and appreciating my collection. Ed
DeleteI wish I had followed your blog sooner! This collection is awesome. How did cigarette boxes (?) look like, how were these labels placed on them? Interesting packaging, I must say. Anyway good job! Following this blog from now on. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Lauren, Thanks for your comments. Check out my other blog, it illustrates how the cigarettes were packed. - http://pinoykollektor.blogspot.com/2012/04/la-flor-de-la-isabela-cigars-and.html . Ed
DeleteVery informative and detailed article, now this shows not only the role of tobacco manufacturing in our economic growth but also that it has a part in our banknotes history.
ReplyDeleteimpressive collections!! thanks for sharing it to the public..
ReplyDeleteI don't suppose Ive read anything like this before. So nice to find somebody with some original thoughts on this subject.
ReplyDeleteYour working is truly appreciative, it sounds good to read your blogs thanks a lot guys! e smoking 101
ReplyDeletefantastic collection.mind blowing
ReplyDeletehello i do have an old 1 peso bill and a cent bill i was wondering how much would it be if you are going to buy them..all in good condition..
ReplyDelete