Own Any Philippine Coins? They Could Be Worth Up to $1 Million (2024)

Own Any Philippine Coins? They Could Be Worth Up to $1 Million (1)

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Have you checked your pile of change recently? If you’re lucky, it may contain a rare or valuable coin. Who knows? You could even find a U.S.-Philippines coin, which can be worth up to $1 million!

While it’s unlikely that you’ll find one of the ultra-rare — and ultra-valuable — coins sitting forgotten in your change, even some of the more common U.S.-Philippines coins routinely sell for thousands. Here’s a closer look at data from CoinValueLookup about these unique historical artifacts and why they’ve become so sought-after.

Why Are US-Philippines Pesos Worth So Much?

The Philippines became a U.S. colony in 1898. The U.S. Mint in Philadelphia began producing these coins soon after, in 1903.

The U.S. Mint designed these coins to be binational. One side of the coin shows a Filipina Lady Liberty, while the other features a U.S. bald eagle and shield. These were crafted with extreme detail, which has put them amid the most beautiful surviving coinage from that era.

At the same time, very few early-era U.S.-Philippines pesos still exist. Many were melted down for their silver content, while others were lost at sea or severely damaged by weather. The Japanese invasion of the Philippines during World War II also contributed to the scarcity of these coins.

Today, collectors are willing to pay a ton for U.S.-Philippines coins for exactly these reasons. The coins are beautiful and rare, which makes them a wonderful addition to a serious collection.

1907 Proof Peso

You probably don’t have this coin. It’s an early “proof,” which means it wasn’t made for circulation as currency, but rather to serve as a model for the future coins the U.S. Mint would create.

Very few of these valuable proof coins have survived to the present day. In fact, there are only two in total from the year 1907. That’s why a collector was willing to pay just under $1 million for one in 2018.

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Own Any Philippine Coins? They Could Be Worth Up to $1 Million (5)
Own Any Philippine Coins? They Could Be Worth Up to $1 Million (6)

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1907-S Peso

Maybe you don’t have an original-proof version of the 1907 U.S.-Philippines peso. But you could have a version of it designed for circulation. These are still valuable — one in mint condition sold for $15,600 in 2019.

Keep in mind that only a small percentage of the coins are in good-enough condition to be graded as mint. But even if yours isn’t, it could still be worth several thousand dollars.

1918-S Allen-4.08b Mule

In coin collecting, errors often add value through scarcity. A mint makes a mistake in production, creating coins that don’t feature the right front and back images. It catches the mistake and stops making the coins, leaving only a handful for collectors to fight over years later.

That’s exactly what happened with the 1918-S Allen-4.08b Mule. Its front features the image of a seated man used on 20-cent coins, while the back has the design of the five-cent coin. Collectors love high-quality versions of this coin because of its unique backstory and scarcity. One in excellent condition sold for $41,125 in 2014.

1906-S Peso

When the U.S. began producing Philippine coins, it made them with the same silver quantity as an American silver coin called the Morgan. However, the Morgan was worth twice as much as the U.S.-Philippines peso in that era, so the U.S. Mint decided to redesign the Philippines peso with a lower silver quantity to make it cheaper to produce.

This means the majority of the 1906-S pesos were melted down for their silver content. Now, they’re very scarce, and collectors are willing to pay top dollar for the high-quality version. For example, someone purchased a 1906-S peso in good condition in 2020 for $43,200.

1905-S Peso

There are two versions of the 1905-S peso, which have slightly different design elements. The rare Allen-16.06a version has a Filipina Lady Liberty with squared-off feet, while the more common version, Allen-16.06, features curved feet. However, both versions are worth quite a bit for their rarity. For example, a “cheaper” curved-foot version of the coin in mint condition sold for $60,000 in 2022.

What To Do With Your Rare Coins

If you find rare coins like these in your collection, you may want to cash out as quickly as possible. But it’s important to follow the right process. Doing so will help you maximize your profits.

That means starting by getting the coin graded through a reputable company. You can also bring your coins to an appraiser to see how much they’re worth. Then, put them up for auction online to appeal to the widest range of collectors possible.

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Own Any Philippine Coins? They Could Be Worth Up to $1 Million (2024)

FAQs

Own Any Philippine Coins? They Could Be Worth Up to $1 Million? ›

1907 Proof Peso

Which Philippine coin has the greatest value? ›

This 1907 bi-national proof peso is one of the scarcest and most valuable Philippine coins. Only two examples exist today—one was sold privately, while the other is owned by the Museum of Money in Manila. The coin was minted in the United States as part of the bi-national coins between 1903 and 1908.

What is the rarest 1 peso coin in the Philippines? ›

Among the rarest coins in the U.S. Philippines series from the collectors' standpoint are the 1906-S One Peso, the 1916-S Five Centavos, the 1918-S Five Centavo Mule, the 1903-S Twenty Centavos (especially in Mint State) and the 1915-S One Centavo.

Which Philippine coin has the least value? ›

The one-sentimo coin (1¢) is the smallest-denomination coin of the Philippine peso.

What coins are worth a lot of money? ›

8 Rare Coins Worth Millions That Are Highly Coveted by Coin...
  • 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar. ...
  • 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. ...
  • 1913 5C Liberty Head Nickel. ...
  • 1804 Silver Dollar Original — Class I. ...
  • 1787 $15 Brasher, Breast Punch. ...
  • 723 Umayyad Gold Dinar. ...
  • 1849 $20 Liberty Gold Coin.
6 days ago

What Philippines coins are worth money? ›

1907-S Peso

Maybe you don't have an original-proof version of the 1907 U.S.-Philippines peso. But you could have a version of it designed for circulation. These are still valuable — one in mint condition sold for $15,600 in 2019.

How much is 1 coin in Philippine peso? ›

0.03769214 PHP

How much is $1000 peso coin worth? ›

Mexican Pesos to US Dollars conversion rates
MXNUSD
100 MXN5.25 USD
500 MXN26.27 USD
1,000 MXN52.54 USD
5,000 MXN262.71 USD
7 more rows

How much is a 1972 1 peso coin worth? ›

Manage my collection
DateMintageVF
Undetermined
1972121 821 000$ 0.62
197410 000
1974 (1974-1975)65 002 178$ 0.55

How much is a 1997 1 peso coin worth? ›

Manage my collection
DateGXF
1997 PI$ 0.09$ 0.37
1998 PI$ 0.14$ 0.34
1999 PI$ 0.20$ 0.49
2000 PI$ 0.12$ 0.26
6 more rows

Is there a coin shortage in the Philippines? ›

The reasons behind the small change shortage in the Philippines. The Philippines is experiencing an artificial coin shortage. It's artificial because there are plenty of coins - it's just that people are using them less so they fall out of circulation and end up collecting in jars at home.

What is the newest coin in the Philippines? ›

On 17 December 2019, the BSP released the new 20-Piso NGC coin and the enhanced 5-Piso NGC coin with nine sides which are the latest to be circulated under the BSP's NGC Coin Series. The bi-color 20-Piso coin retains major elements of the 20-piso banknote.

What is the oldest Philippine coins? ›

Piloncitos are tiny engraved bead-like gold bits unearthed in the Philippines. They are the first recognized coinage in the Philippines circulated between the 9th and 12th centuries. They emerged when increasing trade made barter inconvenient.

Which quarter is worth $35000 today? ›

Do You Know How To Spot Them? Some quarters minted in 1970 could be worth $35,000. Here's how to know if you have one of these incredibly expensive coins.

Are there any foreign coins worth money? ›

Coins such as ancient Roman Denarii, Greek Drachma, Chinese Cash coins, and Spanish Reales are all examples of old foreign coins that draw the interest of collectors worldwide. Particularly rare or well-preserved specimens, or those associated with significant historical events or figures, can be of significant value.

What is the highest Philippine peso value in history? ›

The highest Philippine peso to US dollars rate was on March 13, 2024 when 1 Philippine peso was worth 0.0181 US dollar.

Which currency coin has the highest value? ›

1: Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD)

The highest-valued currency in the world is the Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD). Since it was first introduced in 1960, the Kuwaiti dinar has consistently ranked as the world's most valuable currency.

What is the highest coin denomination in the Philippines? ›

Philippines 20 Pesos 2020 Bimetal coin Highest Denomination coin.

How much is a 1972 1 peso coin worth today? ›

Mintage, Worth:
YearMintageValue, USD
Unc
197465.002.178$ 0.73
1972121.821.000$ 0.6

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