Catalog
5 Pesos Circulating note, Blue seal, Orange back
| Issuer | Philippine National Bank |
|---|---|
| Year | 1916 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | P#46 |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Entirely engraved in orange ink, the reverse is dominated by dense guilloche lacework forming the border and corner ornaments, with large numeral '5' medallions at each side. The central field carries the bold letterpress legend across two lines, flanked above by a horizontal band reading 'FIVE PESOS' on either side of a central 'V' vignette. A small panel at lower centre contains the receivability clause in fine print. |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Signature(s) | Log in to see details |
| Protection type | Log in to see details |
| Protection description | Log in to see details |
| Variants | P#46a - signatures: S. Ferguson & H. Parker Willis P#46b - signatures: S. Mercado & V. Concepcion |
| Comments |
The Philippine National Bank was established by the American colonial government in 1916 specifically to break the stranglehold of foreign banking houses — primarily British and Spanish-era institutions — over Philippine commercial credit. This note, issued in the bank's inaugural year, predates the PNB's first serious crisis by only a few years; aggressive wartime lending to sugar interests during 1917–1918 nearly collapsed the institution entirely by 1921.
Two signature combinations are documented for Pick 46. The Willis pairing reflects H. Parker Willis's brief tenure as the bank's organizing advisor — he was better known as the principal drafter of the U.S. Federal Reserve Act of 1913.