1 centavo 1942
“Culion Leper”
Market Prices
About This Note
This is a remarkable 1942 Philippine Commonwealth 1 centavo emergency currency note issued by the Culion Leper Colony, a historically significant medical institution. The pink/reddish certificate-style note features typed English text on aged paper with visible foxing and discoloration consistent with eight decades of storage, grading VF despite significant aging. This is a scarce emergency issue reflecting the unique administrative status of the Culion facility during the Commonwealth period, making it highly sought by both Philippine currency and medical history collectors.
Scarce. While market data shows eBay prices ranging from $1.99 to $9.99 for various grades, the Culion Leper Colony notes represent a specialized emergency issue with limited original circulation and production. The specific administrative nature of this facility (a medical institution rather than a central bank) meant significantly smaller print runs compared to standard national currency. The VF grade specimen is less common than UNC examples in the market, and collector interest in this particular emergency issue is strong due to its historical significance and unique provenance.
The Culion Leper Colony was an isolated medical facility in the Philippines operated under the Commonwealth of the Philippines' Bureau of Health. During 1942, amid World War II and disrupted supply chains, the colony issued its own emergency currency denominated in centavos to facilitate internal commerce and worker compensation. The certificate explicitly states obligations through the 'Disbursing Officer' and 'Acting Chief' of Culion Leper Colony, reflecting the semi-autonomous administrative structure of this specialized institution.
This note is printed in a certificate-style format rather than traditional banknote design, utilizing a pink/reddish stock paper with brown typewriter-style printed text. The obverse features a formal declaration format typical of official warrants or scrip certificates, with the denomination 'ONE CENTAVO' prominently displayed. Three signature/approval lines are present for the Disbursing Officer, Acting Chief, and Executive Control Commission Chairman. The reverse is essentially blank except for faint impressions and aging marks. No portraits, landmarks, or symbolic imagery are present—the design relies entirely on official text and authority citations to establish legitimacy. The serial number .2669 appears twice, likely indicating control numbering.
FRONT SIDE: 'This Certifies That The / PHILIPPINES COMMONWEALTH / BUREAU OF HEALTH / CULION LEPER COLONY / Is Obligated to Pay the Bearer / ONE CENTAVO / In Legal Tender Currency / Disb. Off., C.L.C. [Disbursing Officer, Culion Leper Colony] / Actg. Chief, C.L.C. [Acting Chief, Culion Leper Colony] / Chairman, E.C.C. [Chairman, Executive Control Commission] / 1942 / Serial Numbers: .2669'. BACK SIDE: Largely blank reverse with faint mark 'Culion' and aging discoloration; no significant text.
Typeset letterpress printing on colored paper stock, using standard typewriter-style fonts. The text shows characteristics of institutional printing common to wartime emergency currency issues. The simplicity of design and execution reflects emergency production conditions and the limited printing facilities available to the Culion facility during 1942. No security features or sophisticated anti-counterfeiting measures are evident.
This specimen carries the serial number .2669 (appears twice on the obverse). Pick catalog designation P-S241 indicates this is a catalogued variety within the specialized Philippine emergency currency series. The 1942 date and Culion Leper Colony imprint establish this as a specific wartime issue. Variations may exist in signature combinations (Disbursing Officer, Acting Chief, and Chairman signatures vary by individual), and serial number ranges likely differ between printing runs. The condition and aging characteristics suggest this is an original 1942 production specimen rather than a later reprint.
