10 pesos 1942

Common. This note represents a regular-issue emergency currency from Mountain Province in 1942, issued during wartime but in sufficient quantities for provincial circulation. The eBay market data shows consistent pricing in the $2.99-$5.99 USD range for AU examples, with multiple sales recorded across various conditions, indicating steady collector availability. Emergency notes from this period, while historically significant, were produced in volume sufficient to meet provincial economic needs. Serial number 7016 falls within a normal range suggesting substantial print runs. The AU condition grade is achievable and regularly appears in the market, further supporting a common classification.

This emergency note was issued during 1942, during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II, when the Philippine Commonwealth government was displaced and local provincial authorities issued currency to maintain economic function. The note's inscriptions emphasize its legal tender status 'by authority of the President of the Philippines and the Provincial Board of the Mountain Province,' reflecting the provincial government's attempt to maintain legitimacy and financial continuity during wartime. The redemption clause promising conversion 'in the Currency of the Philippine Commonwealth after this Emergency' demonstrates the temporary, crisis-driven nature of this monetary instrument.

This Mountain Province Emergency Note features a formal, symmetrical design typical of official Philippine government currency of the 1940s. The obverse (front) is dominated by an ornate decorative border composed of repeated fleur-de-lis patterns along the top and bottom edges, with matching spiral flourishes and corner ornaments at all four corners—a classical design element signifying official authority. The note's denomination appears as 'P 10 P' in all corners. The center contains the certification text attesting to the deposit of equivalent funds in the Philippine National Bank, with multiple lines for official signatures in handwritten form. The reverse (back) employs a lighter, more minimalist design with reddish-brown ornamental borders and corner decorations, focusing primarily on the legal and regulatory text establishing the note's validity and redemption conditions. Both sides use a cream/tan colored paper with black and colored inks. No portraits or specific landmarks are depicted; instead, the design relies on classical ornamental geometry and official typography to convey legitimacy and governmental authority.

FRONT SIDE: The note displays 'P 10 P' (Ten Pesos) in all four corners and prominently features 'TEN PESOS' in the center. The main text reads: 'This certifies that there has been deposited in the Philippine National Bank the equivalent of TEN PESOS. Redeemable in the Currency of the Philippine Commonwealth after this Emergency.' The note is identified as a 'Mountain Province Emergency Note, SERIES A, No 7016.' Signature lines are designated for 'PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR' (signed by N. S. Vergara), 'PROVINCIAL TREASURER,' and countersigned by 'PROVINCIAL AUDITOR' and 'ASST. PROVINCIAL TREASURER.' BACK SIDE: The back repeats 'P10P' and 'TEN PESOS' in the corners and center. The legal authority statement reads: 'THIS NOTE IS ISSUED BY AUTHORITY OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE PROVINCIAL BOARD OF THE MOUNTAIN PROVINCE AND IS DECLARED LEGAL TENDER. NOT VALID UNLESS SIGNED BY THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR AND PROVINCIAL TREASURER AND COUNTERSIGNED BY THE PROVINCIAL AUDITOR AND SEALED WITH THE OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE MOUNTAIN PROVINCE.'

This note was produced using letterpress printing, evident from the crisp, regular impression of the border patterns, text, and corner ornaments visible in both images. The black printing on the front and reddish-brown printing on the back show characteristics consistent with multi-pass letterpress production, likely using separately prepared plates for the ornamental borders and text elements. The handwritten signatures in purple/blue ink were added post-printing as part of the validation and authorization process, a common security measure for emergency currency during wartime. The specific printer for this Mountain Province issue is not definitively documented in standard catalogs, but such provincial emergency notes were typically produced locally or through the Philippine National Bank's printing facilities.

This specific example is catalogued as P-S604, Pick's standard designation for the Mountain Province 10 Peso Emergency Note of 1942. The note is identified as SERIES A, Serial No 7016, and is signed by N. S. Vergara as Provincial Governor. According to the PMG Population Report, there is one recorded variant (P-S604a) within the base Pick number, though complete variant details are not fully specified in available data. The handwritten nature of the signature authorization means each note represents a unique combination of dated signatures from the authorizing officials, potentially creating minor collectible variations among otherwise identical issues.