The silver history of the Philippines is deeply intertwined with that of the United States. During the early 20th century, the Philippines was a US territory and its coins were struck to American standards at the Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Manila mints. Early issues featured high 90% purity and shared the same large-format weights as contemporary US silver.
In 1907, the weight and fineness were reduced to prevent the coins from being melted down for their bullion value. This created the distinct "Small" Peso and a standardized 75% purity for circulating denominations. This era also produced unique commemorative issues in 1936 to celebrate the establishment of the Commonwealth. These coins remain a fascinating hybrid of American and Filipino numismatic history.
| Coin Type | Purity | Years | ASW (oz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Peso (Large) | 90.0% | 1903-1906 | 0.7800 |
| 1 Peso (Small) | 80.0% | 1907-1912 | 0.5144 |
| 1 Peso (Murphy-Roosevelt) | 75.0% | 1936 | 0.4823 |
| 50 Centavos (Large) | 90.0% | 1903-1906 | 0.3897 |
| 50 Centavos (Murphy-Roosevelt) | 75.0% | 1936 | 0.2411 |
| 50 Centavos | 75.0% | 1907-1945 | 0.2411 |
| 20 Centavos (Large) | 90.0% | 1903-1906 | 0.1559 |
| 20 Centavos | 75.0% | 1907-1945 | 0.0964 |
| 10 Centavos (Large) | 90.0% | 1903-1906 | 0.0779 |
| 10 Centavos | 75.0% | 1907-1945 | 0.0482 |
