5 pesos 1942

Uncommon. While the eBay market data shows VF examples of Philippine 1942 5-peso notes trading in the $35.00 USD range, the Bohol Emergency Currency Board issue represents a specific provincial variant from a narrow geographic and temporal issuance window during wartime occupation. Print runs for provincial emergency currency boards were typically limited compared to national issues. The specific Bohol variant is less commonly encountered than generic Commonwealth 1942 issues, and the VF condition grade adds to desirability, placing this in the uncommon rather than common category.

This note was issued during 1942 under the authority of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, a period coinciding with Japanese occupation following the fall of the Philippines in early 1942. The Bohol Emergency Currency Board issued these certificates from Taguilian as a necessity when normal monetary circulation was disrupted; the redemption clause promises repayment 'upon termination of emergency' in lawful Philippine currency. The provincial-level signatures of the Acting Provincial Treasurer, Provincial Auditor, and Provincial Fiscal underscore how local governance structures maintained administrative continuity during wartime occupation.

The note features a formal certificate-style design typical of emergency currency issues. The front displays centered English text in a sans-serif typeface within ornate decorative geometric borders on the left and right margins, with a circular Commonwealth of the Philippines seal (depicting an eagle or shield emblem) positioned on the right side. The denomination 'FIVE PESOS' appears prominently in large text, with a bearer clause and redemption promise constituting the note's legal text. Three signature lines represent provincial officials. The reverse presents a simpler, more minimalist layout with the issuing authority, location (Taguilian, Bohol), denomination, and country name centrally positioned within matching geometric borders, with denomination numerals '5' in the corners. Both sides employ the same tan/beige paper stock with black and dark gray printing, and the red-ink serial number provides a secondary color accent.

FRONT SIDE: 'TREASURY EMERGENCY CURRENCY CERTIFICATE' / 'BY AUTHORITY OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES THIS CERTIFIES THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES WILL REDEEM THIS CERTIFICATE OF 1942 AT FACE VALUE UPON TERMINATION OF EMERGENCY' / 'FIVE PESOS' / 'PAYABLE TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND IN LAWFUL CURRENCY OF THE PHILIPPINES' / 'BOHOL EMERGENCY CURRENCY BOARD' / Signature lines: 'ACTG. PROV. TREAS MEMBER' (Acting Provincial Treasurer Member), 'PROV. AUDITOR CHAIRMAN' (Provincial Auditor Chairman), 'PROV. FISCAL MEMBER' (Provincial Fiscal Member) / Serial number: '1,854384' / Denomination: '5' 'PESOS'. REVERSE SIDE: 'ISSUED BY THE BOHOL EMERGENCY CURRENCY BOARD' / 'TAGUILIAN, BOHOL' / 'FIVE PESOS' / 'PHILIPPINES' / Denomination numerals '5' in corners.

Letterpress or intaglio printing on aged tan/beige paper stock, typical of 1942-era Philippine emergency currency production. The sharp text impressions, the formal certificate layout, and the precise geometric border patterns indicate professional government printing, likely executed locally in the Philippines by the Commonwealth printing authority. The red serial number suggests either a separate red-ink letterpress pass or manual application, which was common practice for emergency certificates of this era.

This note is identified as Pick catalog P-S136h, indicating it belongs to the supplemental series of Philippine emergency currency. The specific variety is the Bohol Emergency Currency Board issue from Taguilian (as inscribed on the reverse). The serial number 1,854,384 in red ink is consistent with documented Bohol issues. No major overprints, date variations, or signature variants are noted in the visual analysis, though provincial emergency notes sometimes show handwritten notations or stamps; some marks are visible on the reverse. This represents the standard Bohol emergency certificate design without documented sub-varieties in the primary numismatic literature.