US Mint May 2011 Coin Production Surges, Grant $1 Mintages Revealed

The amount of coins coming out of the United States Mint surged in May 2011, according to the latest coin production figures from the bureau.The totals were the highest of the year, the second best over the past twelve months, and revealed the final mintages for the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential $1 which launched into circulation May 19.The Mint pressed 807.41 million coins for circulation in May, topping the previous month by 26.1 percent and year ago levels by 22.9 percent.Monthly US Mint Coin Production Figures / MintagesMonth Mintages RankMay 2011 807.41 M 2April 2011 640.17 M 9March 2011 485.5 M 12February 2011 523.14 M 11January 2011 764.73 M 4December 2010 80.200 M 13November 2010 531.46 M 10October 2010 730.22 M 6September 2010 690.02 M 7August 2010 743.78 M 5July...

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BSP to produce Rizal's 150th Anniversary medal

During the centennial celebration of Rizal's day, the Central Bank of the Philippines minted in limited quantities 50 centavo and 1-piso coins showing two angles of Rizal's bust. The coins were produced in the United States and were made of .900 fine silver.The mintage of both coins were just limited to just 100, 000 pieces each, and were assigned as KM 192 and 193 in the Coin Catalog. Descendants of Dr. Jose Rizal are working with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to produce a commemorative medal in time for the national hero's 150th birth anniversary this June. Ramoncita Reyes, great granddaughter of Saturnina Rizal, the hero's eldest sister, said the family decided to participate in the national celebration by creating a gold-plated medal. “This commemorative medal will be produced...

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The Papal Coinage and Medals

Not known to many Filipinos, Bayani Rumbaoa is the official engraver and designer of the famous Pope John Paul II commemorative coin during the celebration of the World Youth Day held in Manila in the year 1995. The year was the second visit of the recently beatified Pope in Manila and his first as a Pope was in the year of 1981. During the Pope’s first visit, Imelda Marcos commissioned Tupas Medal and Coin Engraver to design and engrave medals that would feature the late President’s bust, Ferdinand Marcos and that of the Pope and another medal where both busts are placed on each side of the medal. Contrary to popular sources on the internet, Rumbaoa is not the first coin engraver of the BSP but Tupas was commissioned by the BSP prior to its establishment during the abolition of the...

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Holy Week Special: The Sacred Money Part II

Holy week or “Mahal na Araw” as we call it, is a very special occasion among Filipino Christians as we recall and dramatize the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Among the traditions that we inherited from the Spaniards is the “pabasa” as a unique practice among the local Christians where the “Passion of Christ” is sang rather than read for the whole day within a week. Famous it is that even our colonizer admires such practice. This is also a special occasion among the practitioners of witchcraft, faith healing, and holders of talisman as they re-energized their powers and learn more from their peers thru gatherings or conventions that are especially held every Good Friday of the Lenten season. As a numismatist and historian, talisman or anting-anting amulet never fails to amaze me because...

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