141. Banknotes of the Central Bank of the Philippines. Specimen & Regular Issues

I am sharing a part of my banknote collection that was issued by the Central Bank of the Philippines in 1949 up to the present. This collection includes regular issues, specimens, test notes, and trial color proof. 

VICTORY SERIES with CENTRAL BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES  1945-1949

When the Central Bank was created by Republic Act No. 265 better known as an "Act Establishing the Central Bank of the Philippines", it issued notes with the words "CENTRAL BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES" overprinted in two lines above and below the older Victory overprint. This was to show authority behind the currency in circulation, as embodied in the Central Bank charter which states that "the Central Bank has the sole right and authority to issue currency within the territory of the Philippines." These notes remained legal tender until July 30, 1964.

1 peso (Maroon) Apolinario Mabini         

2 pesos (Blue) José Rizal

5 pesos (Yellow) William McKinley and  George Dewey

10 pesos( Brown) George Washington     

20 pesos (Orange) Mayon volcano           

50 pesos (Red) Henry Ware Lawton        

100 pesos (Gold) Ferdinand Magellan     

500 pesos (Violet) Miguel López de Legazpi          

ENGLISH SERIES  1949 - 1969

In 1949 a new set of notes came out. They were printed by  Thomas de la Rue & Co., Ltd., England, and were known in numismatic circle as the ENGLISH SERIES. 

The Central Bank issued under a more organized atmosphere the English Series notes bearing its issuing authority with the following denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 Pesos. After eight years in circulation, the two highest denominations ( 200 & 500 Pesos) were withdrawn while only notes of 1 to 50 Pesos continued to be printed until 1966. 

English series banknotes bearing the signatures of Pres. Elpidio Quirino and CB Governor Miguel Quaderno Sr.

₱1 (Gray) Apolinario Mabini / Barasoain Church 

₱2 (Blue) José Rizal /Landing of Ferdinand Magellan

₱5 (Golden yellow)  Marcelo H. del Pilar and Graciano Lopez Jaena /La Solidaridad

English series banknotes bearing the signatures of Pres. Elpidio Quirino and CB Governor Miguel Quaderno Sr.

₱10 (Brown) Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora / Urdaneta and Legaspi Monument

₱20 (Orange)Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto /Kartilya ng Katipunan and the Balintawak Monument

₱50 (Red)  Antonio Luna / Blood compact between Sikatuna and Legaspi

English series banknotes bearing the signatures of Pres. Elpidio Quirino and CB Governor Miguel Quaderno Sr.

₱100 (Yellow) Tandang Sora / Regimental flags and the Katipunan veterans

₱200 (Green) Manuel L. Quezon / Legislative Building

₱500 (Violet) Manuel Roxas / Former Central Bank Building

Fractional or small denomination notes with reduced size of 4 1/4 x 2 1/8 inches with denominations of 5, 10, 20, and 50 Centavos were also printed from 1955 through 1958 to alleviate the shortage of US-Philippine coins.  In 1957, the Half Peso of a bigger dimension (5 1/8 x 2 3/8 inches) also went into circulation. The issuance of these fractional notes was stopped because of economic reasons and in 1958 they were replaced by coins of the following denominations: 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 Centavos.

Fractional notes were printed from 1949-to 1958.

5 centavos (Red)

10 centavos (Maroon)

20 centavos (Green)

50 centavos (Blue)
Half peso (Green) Mt. Mayon and three men riding on a carabao-drawn cart

These SPECIMEN notes were printed by Thomas de la Rue & Co., Ltd., England as seen on the black and red oval overprints.  A specimen banknote is printed generally in very limited quantities for distribution to central banks to aid in the recognition of banknotes from a country other than their own.  In some cases, specimen banknotes are printed in less limited quantities and distributed to commercial banks, or even to commercial enterprises and the public at large to familiarize users with new designs.

SPECIMEN notes printed by Thomas de la Rue & Co., Ltd.
English series banknotes bearing the signatures of Pres. Elpidio Quirino and CB Governor Miguel Quaderno Sr. 

  

To avoid the use of specimen banknotes as legal tender notes, the banknotes are deformed, typically by being overprinted
and/or punched (perfin) with an inscription such as "SPECIMEN", "CANCELLED" or the equivalent in one or more
other languages. In most cases, specimen notes have readily-identifiable serial numbers such as  "000000".

Fractional SPECIMEN notes printed by Thomas de la Rue & Co., Ltd.

50 Centavos. Unissued trial color proofs.
Maria Cristina Hydroelectric Plant (bottom)

5 Centavos. Unissued trial color proofs.  

 

Test notes / Proofs for the 5, 10 & 20 centavos fractional notes. Unissued

PILIPINO SERIES  1969-1973

The Pilipino series banknotes is the name used to refer to Philippine banknotes and coins issued by the Central Bank of the Philippines from 1969 to 1973, during the term of President Ferdinand Marcos. This series represented a radical change from the English series. The bills underwent Filipinization and a design change. The “Pilipino” notes bore portraits/profiles of Filipino heroes with legends inscribed in Pilipino, the national language.

The series came in denominations 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100. The first five notes have been widely circulated while the issuance of the 100-Piso bills was limited. Together with the English Series, this Pilipino Series was considered demonetized after February 28, 1974, under PD 378. 

Pilipino series SPECIMEN banknotes bearing the signatures of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos & CB Governor Gregorio Licaros

₱1(Blue) José Rizal / Declaration of Philippine Independence

₱5 (Green) Andres Bonifacio / Sanduguan or Blood Compact of the Katipuneros

₱10 (Brown)  Apolinario Mabini / Barasoain Church

₱20 (Orange) Manuel L. Quezon / Malacañan Palace

₱50 (Red) Sergio Osmeña / Legislative Building

Pilipino series SPECIMEN banknotes bearing the signatures of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos and
CB Governor Gregorio Licaros / Alfonso Calalang

₱50 (Red) Sergio Osmeña / Legislative Building

₱100 (Violet) Manuel Roxas /Former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Building

Pilipino series SPECIMEN banknotes bearing the signatures of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos & CB Governor Alfonso Calalang

₱5 (Green) Andres Bonifacio / Sanduguan or Blood Compact of the Katipuneros

₱10 (Brown)  Apolinario Mabini / Barasoain Church

₱20 (Orange) Manuel L. Quezon / Malacañan Palace

ANG BAGONG LIPUNAN SERIES (ABL) 1973- 1981

The Ang Bagong Lipunan (ABL) series was issued by the Central Bank of the Philippines in line with Presidential Decree No. 168 dated April 2, 1973. The Ang Bagong Lipunan (literally means New Society) legend overprinted on the banknotes was meant to symbolize then-President Marcos’ New Society which marked the era of reforms in the social, economic, and political structure of the government. This legend was the main difference in the design between ABL and Pilipino series. The lowest denomination in the ABL series was 2-Piso and the highest was 100-Piso. The 2-Piso denomination carried the design elements of the 1-Piso Pilipino series.  In 1978 the notes were printed at the Security Printing Plant.  The ABL banknote series was considered demonetized after February 2, 1996.

ABL series SPECIMEN banknotes bearing the signatures of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos and CB Governor Gregorio Licaros

₱2 (Blue) José Rizal /Declaration of Philippine Independence        

₱5 (Green) Andres Bonifacio / Sanduguan or Blood Compact of the Katipuneros  

₱10 (Brown)  Apolinario Mabini / Barasoain Church

₱20 (Orange) Manuel L. Quezon / Malacañan Palace

ABL series SPECIMEN banknotes bearing the signatures of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos and CB Governor Gregorio Licaros

₱50 (Red) Sergio Osmeña / Legislative Building

₱100 (Violet) Manuel Roxas /Former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Building

ABL Commemorative Issues.  SPECIMEN
₱2 (Blue) Pagdalaw ng Papa Juan Pablo II, Feb 12-17, 1981 overprint
₱10 (Brown) Pangulo ng Pilipnas, Ferdinand E. Marcos, Hunyo 30, 1981 overprint 

NEW DESIGN SERIES (NDS) 1985-2017

When Martial Law was lifted in 1981, the Central Bank started to print and mint an entirely new series of Philippine currency notes and coins which are contemporary and forward-looking, adopting the latest trend of anti-counterfeiting features. On June 12, 1985, the BSP issued the New Design Series starting with the 5-Piso banknote with the face of Emilio Aguinaldo on the obverse side. The following month, the 10-Piso banknote with the face of Apolinario Mabini on the obverse side was issued. In early 1986, a new 20-Piso banknote appeared. After the 1986 People Power Revolution and the new 1987 Constitution was promulgated, the 500-Piso banknote with the face of Benigno Aquino, Jr. on the obverse side was introduced. In 1991, the BSP issued for the first time a 1000-Piso banknote, containing on the obverse side the composite portraits of Jose Abad Santos, Josefa Llanes Escoda, and Vicente Lim.

In the NDS, the country’s social and political development and economic achievements were highlighted. The design was made more distinctly Pilipino through the adoption of ethnic designs in the background of all the denominations instead of the embellishing lacework patterns from western culture that were depicted in the earlier series. The seal of the Central Bank of the Philippines in the obverse and the size of the Pilipino series had been retained.

NDS series SPECIMEN banknotes bearing the signatures of Pres. Corazon Aquino and CB Governor Jose Fernandez Jr.

₱5 (Green) Emilio Aguinaldo, Aguinaldo Shrine historical marker / Declaration of Philippine Independence, 1898

₱10 (Brown) Apolinario Mabini, 1899 Malolos Constitution / Barasoain Church    

₱20 (Orange)  Manuel L. Quezon, 1935 Philippine Commonwealth / Malacañan Palace    

₱50 (Red) Sergio Osmeña / Legislative Building/National Museum              

NDS series SPECIMEN banknotes bearing the signatures of Pres. Corazon Aquino and
CB Governor Jose Fernandez Jr. / Jose Cuisia Jr.

₱100 (Violet) Manuel A. Roxas, Inauguration of the Third Philippine Republic /Old and current headquarters of the
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in Manila

₱500 (Yellow) Benigno S. Aquino, Jr., BSAJ typewriter, Philippine flag /Aquino as a journalist for the
Manila Times holding a Rolleiflex camera (in front of an article about "1st Cav" and the Partition of Korea),
Study Now, Pay Later education program, Concepcion, Tarlac town hall, Tarlac Provincial Capitol,
1986 People Power Revolution.

₱1000 (Blue) José Abad Santos, Vicente Lim, Josefa Llanes Escoda; eternal flame /Banaue Rice Terraces,
Manunggul Jar cover and Langgal.               

In 2000 issued a new 10 Piso design.  SPECIMEN Note
₱10  (Brown) Apolinario Mabini & Andres Bonifacio, / 1899 Malolos Constitution,
Kartilla ng Katipunan Barasoain Church, Blood Compact of the Katipuneros 

In 1998, the 100,000-peso Centennial banknote, measuring 8.5"x14", was accredited by the Guinness Book of World
Records as the world's largest legal tender note. It was issued in very limited quantity during the celebration of the
 Centennial of Philippine Independence.               

In 2000, these 2,000 Piso banknotes were printed which features the inauguration of President Joseph “Erap” Estrada at
Barasoain Church in Bulacan on 10 June 1998. These notes were intended to be issued as legal tender in 2001,
but President Estrada was ousted from the office that year.  

200 Piso NDS Perforated SPECIMEN

₱200 (Green) Diosdado P. Macapagal, Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite/
EDSA People Power 2001 & the inauguration of Pres.Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

The second major political upheaval called EDSA II in 2001 was depicted on the reverse side of the 200-Piso showing Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo being sworn into office at the EDSA Shrine. She is the first president whose image has been included in a banknote while in office. On the obverse side of the banknote is the portrait of his father, Diosdado Macapagal. The 200-Piso NDS which was issued in 2002, was the last denomination to be added to the series.


For inquiries send to lumang.gamit@yahoo.com

Sources:
Some figures about the Central Bank of the Philippines Circulating notes by Honesto Llanes
Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas  http://www.bsp.gov.ph/
Wikipedia