Philippine half-centavo coin

Half centavo
Philippines
Value	0.005 Philippine peso
Diameter	17.5 mm
Edge	Plain
Composition	Bronze
Years of minting	1904–1908
Obverse
Design	Figure of a man seated beside an anvil holding a hammer and Mt. Mayon, year of minting
Design date	1904
Reverse
Design	Seal of the United States of America
Design date	1904

The Philippine half-centavo coin (½¢), a denomination of Philippine currency, was issued when the Philippines was under US administration. It bears the names of both countries: Filipinas (the Spanish name of the Philippines) and the United States of America.^[1]

Filipino sculptor Melecio Figueroa was hired to design the coin. It features a man with a hammer and anvil, seating in front of Mayon Volcano.^[2]

In 1903 and 1904, the US mint at Philadelphia struck bronze-minted half-centavo coins for circulation.^[3] Eventually, the coin was withdrawn from circulation because it was rejected by Filipinos for its low value. After 1908, all remaining half centavos were melted.^[4]

References

^ Guth, Ron. "U.S. Philippines - PCGS CoinFacts". www.pcgscoinfacts.com. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
^ "Designs on money". Manila Bulletin News. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
^ Guth, Ron. "Half Centavos - PCGS CoinFacts". www.pcgscoinfacts.com. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
^ CoinWeek (2016-09-01). "Philippine Coinage Under U.S. Administration". CoinWeek. Retrieved 2018-11-05.