1 peso 1942

common. This is a regular emergency issue from the Commonwealth of the Philippines with a documented print run (serial numbers 1 to 402,000 noted in catalog data), indicating substantial production for provincial circulation during 1942. The eBay market data shows recent comparable sales at $4.25 (VF condition), well below the $20 threshold that would indicate rarity. VG condition examples such as this are readily encountered in the numismatic market, as these notes were produced in significant quantities for actual circulation use during the emergency period. No evidence of recall, short-lived status, or production scarcity exists for this Pick number variety.

Issued on January 20, 1942, just weeks after the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, this emergency note was authorized by the President of the Philippines and issued by the Negros Occidental Provincial Currency Committee to maintain local commerce during wartime disruption. The red official stamp from the City of Bacolod confirms provincial issuance and validates the emergency nature of this currency, which was necessary when normal monetary supplies were disrupted by the Pacific War. The portrait of Quezon and the Commonwealth seal represent Philippine sovereignty maintained during the early occupation period, before the establishment of the Japanese-controlled Philippine Republic in 1943.

The obverse features a left-aligned portrait of Manuel Luis Quezon, President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, rendered in black ink on a cream/tan background. The design incorporates ornate geometric borders and corner ornaments in a cross-hatching pattern typical of security printing of the era. The denomination 'ONE PESO' appears at top and bottom, with the full legal promise and authorization text arranged across the face. A prominent red circular official stamp from the City of Bacolod dated January 20, 1942 is positioned on the right side, serving as the local provincial validation mark. Three signature lines at the bottom represent the Provincial Fiscal Member, Provincial Treasurer Chairman, and Acting Provincial Auditor Member. The reverse presents a minimal design focused on denomination, featuring a large geometric diamond or shield shape in red/pink ink at center, surrounded by decorative geometric borders, with 'COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES' curving above and 'ONE PESO' displayed below.

FRONT: 'ONE PESO' (denomination); 'EMERGENCY CIRCULATING NOTE OF 1942' (note type designation); 'ISSUED BY AUTHORITY OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES ON JANUARY 20, 1942' (authorization and date); 'THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES' (issuing authority); 'WILL PAY TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND IN LAWFUL CURRENCY OF THE PHILIPPINES' (payment promise); 'NEGROS OCCIDENTAL PROVINCIAL CURRENCY COMMITTEE' (issuing entity); 'SERIES OF 1942' (series designation); 'QUEZON' (portrait identification); 'City of Bacolod Jan. 20, 1942' (official stamp location and date); 'Provincial Fiscal Member,' 'Provincial Treasurer Chairman,' 'Acting Prov. Auditor Member' (signature titles). BACK: 'ONE' and 'PESO' (denomination components); 'COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES' (issuing authority).

This note was produced using letterpress or intaglio printing, evidenced by the crisp black text and portrait on the obverse and the geometric precision of the design elements. The red overprint stamp (Bacolod validation) appears to have been applied separately, likely by official stamp or hand-applied impression. The cross-hatching background patterns and ornate borders are characteristic of security printing techniques employed by the Philippine Bureau of Printing or authorized security printers of the Commonwealth period. The visible wear patterns and ink adherence suggest standard bond paper stock as referenced in catalog data, typical of emergency wartime currency production.

This note is identified as Pick P-S646b, the 'b' variety designation indicating it is distinct from other 1942 emergency issues. The specific variety is the Negros Occidental Provincial Currency Committee issue, as confirmed by the clear inscription on the obverse. The serial number range of 1 to 402,000 establishes this as a regular-issue variety within the emergency series. The January 20, 1942 date and Bacolod stamp are consistent across examples of this variety. No significant sub-varieties (such as signature variations or overprint differences) are apparent in this specimen, though collectors should note that emergency issues from different Philippine provinces exist as separate Pick numbers.