1 peso 1943
“Bohol”
Market Prices
About This Note
This is a scarce Treasury Emergency Certificate from the Commonwealth of the Philippines, issued by the Bohol Emergency Currency Board in 1943. The note displays typical characteristics of wartime emergency currency with formal typography, decorative borders, and three official signatures. Despite significant aging with foxing and discoloration consistent with nearly 80 years of storage, the note remains in VF condition with legible inscriptions and intact security features.
uncommon
This emergency currency certificate was issued during World War II when the Philippines faced severe economic disruption under Japanese occupation. The Bohol Emergency Currency Board issued these Treasury Emergency Certificates to maintain local commerce and trade on the island of Bohol. The formal Commonwealth seal and presidential authority noted on the reverse reflect the Philippine government's efforts to maintain legitimacy and institutional continuity despite wartime conditions.
The note features a traditional formal design typical of Commonwealth of the Philippines currency of the 1940s. The front displays the Treasury Emergency Certificate designation with the Commonwealth seal (circular emblem) positioned on the right side. Decorative borders frame the note with fine line engraving and corner ornaments featuring peso symbols (₱). Three signature lines at the bottom represent the Bohol Emergency Currency Board's administrative structure. The reverse displays a prominent 'ONE PESO' denomination in the center, with an ornamental torch or flame design on the left side and denomination numerals '1' in all four corners. The color scheme is monochromatic tan/beige on aged paper with dark brown/gray printing ink, characteristic of emergency wartime currency production.
FRONT: 'TREASURY EMERGENCY CERTIFICATE' / 'THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES' / 'WILL PAY TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND' / 'ONE PESO' / 'IN LAWFUL CURRENCY OF THE PHILIPPINES BOHOL EMERGENCY CURRENCY BOARD' / Serial Number: 1095598 / 'SERIES 1943' / 'SERIES 1948' / Signature lines for: Acting Secretary (Member), Provincial Auditor (Chairman), Provincial Fiscal (Member). BACK: 'ONE PESO' (prominent center text) / 'ISSUED BY THE BOHOL EMERGENCY CURRENCY BOARD' / 'BY AUTHORITY OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES' / Denomination '1' in all four corners.
The note was produced using intaglio engraving (line engraving), evident from the fine line work throughout the decorative borders and the detailed security features. The fine parallel lines in the borders and ornamental designs are characteristic of traditional intaglio printing used for banknotes. The quality and consistency of the engraving suggest production by established security printers, though specific printer identification for P-S139b is not definitively documented in standard catalogs.
This example is identified as P-S139b (Pick catalog designation), which denotes the specific variety issued by the Bohol Emergency Currency Board. The serial number 1095598 and the presence of both 'SERIES 1943' and 'SERIES 1948' notations on the face are notable identifying features. The three-signature format (Acting Secretary, Provincial Auditor, Provincial Fiscal) represents the administrative structure of the Bohol board. Handwritten marks visible on the reverse side may indicate collector annotations or post-issuance processing marks. Variations in this series typically relate to signature combinations and serial number ranges, with different signature sets representing different board compositions over the emergency currency period.
