Catalog
10 Centavos
| Issuer | Philippine National Bank |
|---|---|
| Year | 1917 |
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| Shape | Rectangular |
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| Reverse description | Printed entirely in yellow on a pale yellow ground, the reverse centres on a vignette of the American bald eagle in flight, wings spread, facing right, set against a globe underprint. Flanking ribbon banners carry the bank name, while lower scroll panels bear the denomination and note type. The date 'NOV. 20, 1917' and place of issue 'MANILA, P.I.' appear within the central vignette area. Denomination numerals '10¢' occupy each corner within circular guilloche devices. |
| Reverse lettering | PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK TEN CENTAVOS EMERGENCY CIRCULATING NOTE MANILA P.I. NOV. 20 1917 |
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| Comments |
The Philippine National Bank was chartered in 1916 partly to displace American private banking interests and extend credit to agricultural producers. These small-denomination emergency circulating notes followed almost immediately, filling a gap left by the shortage of subsidiary coin during World War I — a problem that afflicted nearly every colonial economy in the Pacific during that period.
The PNB series of fractional notes, of which this is among the earliest issues, was authorized under specific wartime emergency provisions rather than ordinary banking legislation. That distinction affected their legal tender status in ways that caused practical friction at point of sale.