US Philippines Coins Half Centavo 1906
Obverse: A young Filipino male seated next to an anvil holding a hammer in his right hand, his left arm raised, and in the background to his left is a billowing Mayon Volcano.
Lettering: "HALF CENTAVO" and "FILIPINAS" (Spanish for Philippines).
Reverse: Eagle above shield, date below
Lettering: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA · 1906 ·
No Mint Mark – Philadelphia Mint
Years: 1903-1908.
Value: 1/2 Centavo.
Metal: Bronze.
Weight: 2.6 g.
Diameter: 17.5 mm.
Shape: Round.
The U.S. government struck Half Centavos for the Philippines from 1903-1908. In 1903 and 1904, the U.S. mint at Philadelphia struck Half Centavos for circulation. Proof examples were struck from in all years from 1903 to 1908 for sale to collectors at a premium.
High grade Mint State examples of the 1903 Half Centavo are available in Full Red condition thanks to a large mintage; 1904 Half Centavos are more difficult to find in Gem condition because of a lower mintage and reduced collector enthusiasm for the coins in the second year.
United States Coinage for the Philippine Islands
The Philippines under U.S. Sovereignty 1898 – 1935
Half Centavo One Centavo 5 Centavos 10 Centavos
20 Centavos 50 Centavos One Peso
United States Coinage for the Philippine Islands - Half Centavo of 1903 - 1908.
The Half Centavo was designed by Filipino artist Melicio Figueroa and engraved by U.S. Mint Chief Engraver Charles Barber. The obverse design shows a young Filipino male seated next to an anvil holding a hammer in his right hand, his left arm raised, and in the background to his left is a billowing Mayon Volcano. The obverse carries the inscriptions "Half Centavo" and "Filipinas" (Spanish for Philippines). The reverse design depicts an eagle with spread wings perched atop an American shield. The reverse carries the inscription "United States of America" and the date.
The Half Centavo was struck in Bronze (95% copper, 5% zinc and tin). It had a weigh of 40 Grains and a diameter of 17.5 mm.
Business strikes of the Half Centavo were struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1903 (12,084,000) and 1904 (5,654,000).
A limited number of Proof Half Centavos were produced at the Philadelphia mint from 1903 through 1906 and again in 1908. The mintage figures for proof Half Centavos is as follows: 1903 (2,558), 1904 (1,355), 1905 (471), 1906 (500), and 1908 (500). The 1905, 1906, and 1908 Half Centavos were PROOF ONLY ISSUES.
The Half Centavo proved to be an unnecessary denomination that was poorly accepted by the public. Production of business strikes of this denomination was discontinued in March 1904 and in April 1904 the unpopular Half Centavo denomination was withdrawn from circulation. In June 1908 the idle stockpile of 7,585,400 Half Centavo pieces was shipped to the San Francisco mint where they were melted and re-coined into One Centavo pieces. That leaves a little less than 60% of the original total mintage still available to collectors today.
If you are thinking about starting a USA-Philippines Type Set this is the perfect coin to start with. A comparatively large number of 1903 business strikes were saved by collectors and well struck MS64 RD and MS65 RD specimens are quite reasonably priced. The 1904 business strikes and all of the proof issues are much scarcer particularly in Red. Gem quality Full Red proofs can be very difficult to find and all are quite rare.
The attached picture shows 1906 USA-Philippines Half Centavo.