BOOK REVIEW: PHILIPPINE MEDALS AND TOKENS, 1780-2010

PHILIPPINE MEDALS AND TOKENS, 1780-2010
By Earl D. Honeycutt Ph.D.
Mactanboy Press, Chapel Hill N.C. 2014

Reviewed by David Thomason Alexander, April 2014

The publication of Philippine Medals and Tokens, 1780-2010, by Earl D. Honeycutt Ph.D. (Mactanboy Press, Chapel Hill N.C. 2014, spiral-bound, 136 pages) is a major event for collectors in a long-neglected area. Interest in Philippine numismatics in the U.S. has developed slowly. Despite some 40 years of American rule in the islands, there has been surprisingly little spill-over interest from collectors of American coins.

While Philippine coins have been largely overlooked, although listed in recent years in the Guide Book of United States Coins (the “Red Book’), medals and tokens have been virtually ignored. There has never been a truly definitive catalogue of Philippine medals, though they were at least touched upon in two of the most important early books on Philippine numismatics: Neil Shafer’s United States Territorial Coinage for the Philippine Islands (Whitman, 1961); and Aldo P. Basso’s Coins, Medals and Tokens of the Philippines 1728-1974 (Bookman Printing, Manila, 1968, 1972).

Both Shafer and Basso listed such medals as were known to them, although Basso listed a far greater number of types without providing much elaboration on why the medals listed came into existence and without making any real effort to tell their stories however briefly.

This reviewer is himself a long-time student of Philippine medals, whose contributions to numismatic periodicals include “Kalayaan, Kapayapaan, Katarungan, Wartime Medals of Jose Paciano Laurel” (Numismatic Scrapbook, December 1975. pp 26-36; “Philippine Republic Medals of World War II,” The Numismatist, May 1988, pp 825-835) and most recently “Collaboration and Conflict: the 1949 Philippine Presidential Election,” ANS Magazine, 2013 Issue 2, pp 36-47. The last article drew upon the great Gilbert S. Pérez Collection donated to American Numismatic Society by the collector’s daughter Eleanor Pérez Niles.

According to his book, cataloguer Honeycutt grew up in North Carolina. He served in Vietnam in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at several important facilities in the Philippines. Later study brought him graduate degrees in Asian Studies, History and Business Administration. He began in-depth collecting of Philippine material while actually living in the Philippines! A delightful note is provided in his introduction by references to his travel, coin buying and enjoying “cold San Miguel beer!”

The first edition is profusely illustrated, with many images drawn from the Basso books. If budget permits, future editions could be immeasurably improved by upgrading image quality. Of course, the impressive cost of digital photography and printing today must be understood as determining factors not easily overlooked.

First editions of books with the broad scope of hilippine Medals and Tokens 1780-2010 will inevitably omit some items but hopefully will stimulate readers to bring such treasures to the cataloguer’s attention. The listings of medals from the Spanish colonial period and the era of American rule are extensive with few new additions.

There are a few areas where descriptions should be updated in any new edition to reflect recent research, notably medals of the Second Philippine Republic portraying President José Paciano Laurel. Honeycutt lists these in Shafer-Basso order, but the Philippine Executive Commission Medal (Honeycutt 322, Basso 166) should precede H.321 as it commemorates an earlier governing organ out of which the Second Republic evolved.

The pejorative term “puppet” is seriously obsolete and interferes with dispassionate study of history. With apologies to Shafer and Basso, it must be pointed out that neither Laurel nor Jorge Vargas “were apprehended after WWII ended,” but both voluntarily presented themselves to American forces early in the invasion of Japan.

In fact, they and the overwhelming majority of the 5,000-plus Filipinos initially charged with collaboration were never convicted of any treasonable offense. Laurel went on to nearly win the Presidency in the stormy and corrupt 1949 election. His portrait hangs today in Malacañang Palace identified as “President Laurel” and his bust and Great Seal of his 1943 republic graced the republic’s 1991 copper-nickel 2 piso coin of 1991.

One of the book’s greatest values is its inclusion of many medals issued since the late Marcos era, most of which are unknown to American collectors. Many are particularly fascinating as reminders of the “People Power” revolution and succeeding presidencies.

Honeycutt’s updating of catalogue values is courageous and a major service to collectors. Pricing often generates controversy but the author has made a praiseworthy effort in this sensitive area that will be of great service to collectors.

One area crying out for expansion is the list of references on page 134. The absence of the Neil Shafer catalogue is incomprehensible. The periodical articles noted above deserve listing, and general Philippine historical books should include David Joel Steinberg, Philippine Collaboration in World War II, University of Michigan Press, 1967, reissued by Solidaridad Publishing House, Manila.

Overall Earl D. Honeycutt deserves the hearty thanks of numismatists everywhere for this extraordinary effort. With the suggestions he is certain to receive about the first edition, one can hope for an enlarged second edition in the not-too-distant future.

Philippine Medals and Tokens, 1780-2010 may be ordered from Earl D. Honeycutt. 226 Edgewater Circle, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27516. Price in hard cover is $75 per copy plus $3 for shipping and handling; soft cover $50 plus $3 for shipping and handling; also offering the new book is Ray Czahor, Cookie Jar Collectibles, P.O. Box 428, Savage, MD 20763-0428.

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