Philippines 1936-M peso KM-177
In 1936, the Manila mint issued two commemoratives in honor of the founding of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. This design features Manuel Quezon, first president of the commonwealth and Franklin D. Roosevelt, president of the United States. The other design (KM 178) replaces Murphy's bust with that of Frank Murphy, erstwhile governor (1933-37) of the territory. Both are valued equally by the SCWC. Quezon remained president until the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in 1942, when he was forced to flee to the USA, where he died in 1944. The two issues did not sell well and many were on hand in the bank when the Japanese attacked; these were dumped into Manila Bay when MacArthur's troops fled Corregidor. Some were fished out of the water in the 1960's, by which time they were badly corroded.
Recorded Mintage: 10,000.
Specifications: 35 mm diameter, 20 g, 0.800 fine silver, .578 troy oz ASW, reeded edge.
Catalog Reference: KM 177.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Ganzon de Legarda, Angelita, Piloncitos to Pesos, A Brief History of Coinage in the Philippines, Manila: Bancom Development Corporation, 1976.
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