Philippines: Malolos. Revolutionary copper 2 Centavos 1899 XF40 PCGS

Revolutionary Philippines RarityMalolos. Revolutionary copper 2 Centavos 1899 XF40 PCGS, KM158.1. Radiant sun surrounded by stars, large date below // Value flanked by sprig and pepper. With an understandable grade for revolutionary coinage, this piece remains surprisingly well-preserved. Glossy espresso hues cloak these unique designs from the town of Malolos-the first of this type Heritage has had the pleasure of offering and seemingly the first seen on the market in many years. Quite enigmatic and perfect for the specialist.

After the Spanish-American War, during which Filipino revolutionaries, aided by the United States, succeeded in overthrowing their colonial rulers, many Filipinos soon began to question the sincerity of their new ally. Fearing the replacement of one imperial power with another, distrust grew rapidly. Rising tensions ultimately led to the outbreak of the Philippine-American War, a conflict that persisted for three years before concluding in an American victory.

During the struggle, the insurgent forces required their own circulating currency, resulting in the creation of roughly made and hastily struck coins such as the present example. Though little concrete information survives about these elusive issues, the distinguished Filipino scholar and collector Aldo P. Basso asserted that they were unquestionably unofficial pieces connected to the revolutionary movement, serving as a numismatic link between the Spanish colonial coinage that preceded them and the later American-produced series that replaced them.

Metal: Copper
Diameter: 24mm