CENTRAL BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, ONE CENTAVO, 1963

OBVERSE: Vulcan, Roman god of fire, rests his elbow on an anvil, his blacksmith’s hammer leaning against his thigh, and glances toward the smoking Mayon volcano on the island of Luzon (still one of most active volcanos in the Philippines).

REVERSE: On January 3, 1949, the “CENTRAL BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES” was inaugurated. It was amended on November 29, 1972, by President Ferdinand Marcos (1917–1989). Central to the coin is the Coat of Arms of the Philippines. The three five-pointed stars represent the primary regions of the Philippines: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The eight-rayed sun recognizes the provinces. Lower left is the eagle of the United States, and lower right is the lion rampant of the Kingdom of Leon, Spain. Both countries had been colonial rulers of the Philippines. By 1998, both images had been unofficially removed from the coat of arms. Also, on this coin, “REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES” replaced the original “REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS.”