U.S. PHILIPPINE DIE VARIETIES SOUGHT

 

The sixth edition, volume II, of the Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties was officially launched at the American Numismatic Association World's Fair of Money in Pittsburgh, August 8–12, 2023. Whitman Publishing has announced that the final volume of the sixth edition will debut in 2024, and the book's editors are seeking input on U.S./Philippine coins from collectors, coin dealers, and researchers.

The upcoming sixth edition, volume III, will cover die varieties among Capped Bust, Liberty Seated, and Barber half dollars, plus Liberty Walking, Franklin, and Kennedy half dollars, trade dollars, Morgan and Peace silver dollars, modern dollar coins, gold coins (dollars through double eagles), classic commemoratives, and silver, gold, and platinum bullion. Among several brand-new chapters, volume III will also include die varieties of coins struck for the Philippines under U.S. sovereignty.

The United States acquired the Philippine Islands in 1899 as part of a treaty with Spain that ended the Spanish-American War of the previous year. In 1901 the colony's American military government was replaced with a civil administration. One of its first tasks was to sponsor a new coinage that was compatible with older Spanish issues, while being legally exchangeable for U.S. money at the rate of two Philippine pesos to one dollar. U.S./Philippine coins were produced from 1903 to 1945.

At various times the coins were minted at the Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Denver Mints, as well as at the Mint of the Philippine Islands (in Manila). They ranged from bronze half centavos to silver pesos and also included a set of commemoratives issued in 1936.

The Guide Book of United States Coins (the hobby's popular Red Book) has long included coverage of U.S./Philippine coins as an important part of America's numismatic history. The 77th edition includes popular die varieties including the 1917-S, 7 Over 6, one-centavo overdate; the 1909-S, S Over S, silver peso repunched mintmark; the 1934-M, Recut 1, five-centavos; and the 1928-M twenty-centavos muled with the reverse of a 1928 five-centavos.

Collectors, dealers, and researchers who would like to recommend U.S./Philippine die varieties for inclusion in the Cherrypickers' Guide may email cherrypickers@whitman.com. The book's editors ask that these suggestions include as much information as possible, and they advise that good, clear photographs are always helpful.

The deadline for recommendations is October 1, 2023.

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web