BSP issues commemorative coins to honor Pinoy heroes, Papal visit

 

 

Good news to coin collectors! The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Friday issued not just one, but three limited edition commemorative circulation coins.

 

The new coins commemorate the following: 

 

These coins will be made available starting December 22, Monday, BSP deputy governor Vicente Aquino told reporters in a briefing.

^{BSP Deputy Gov. Vicente Aquino holding up the coins for reporters. Danessa Rivera}
 

The public can avail of these coins at the cash departments of BSP offices in Manila and Quezon City, managing director of currency management sub-sector Iluminada Sicat said in the same briefing.

 

"There will be 10 million pieces available for sale and there will be 20,000 in brilliant, uncirculated pack," she said, noting the coins will be sold at face value.

 

We'll try to make them available also to banks so that the banks could help us in distributing the coins," she added.

 

On the Bagong Bayani Commemorative Coin (27 millimeters in diameter), the obverse side features portraits of OFWs of different professions, along with the markings "Republika ng Pilipinas" and "Bagong Bayani."

 

The reverse side has a picture of a Filipino family with OFW parents, as well as the BSP logo and the markings "2014: and the denomination.

 

On Mabini's coin (26.5 mm in diameter), the obverse side shows a portrait of the hero with markings "Republika ng Pilipinas" and "10 Piso."

 

The memorial of Mabini, along with the markings "Talino at Paninindigan," "150 taon," "1864-2014" and the BSP logo will be on the reverse side.

 

The Leyte Landing commemorative coin (27 mm in diameter) features on the obverse side the image of Leyte Landing Memorial Monument in Red Beach, Palo, Leyte, along with markings "Leyte Gulf Landing," and "1944-2014."

 

The reverse side shows General McArthur's famous quotation "I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God our forces stand together again on Philippine soil - soil consecrated in the blood of our two peoples." There are also markings "Republika ng Pilipinas," Gen. McArthur's signature five five-point starsm the BSP logo and "5 Piso."

 

Papal visit coin

 

At the same event, Aquino announced the minting by the BSP of P50 and P500 commemorative coins in time for the Papal visit in January next year.

 

Pope Francis will visit the country from January 15 to 19.

 

Last year, the BSP released P10 commemorative coins for the 150th year of Philippine hero Andres Bonifacio.

 

In 2011, the central bank issued P1 commemorative coins for the 150th birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal. — TJD, GMA News