5 pesos 1942
“Cagayan”
Market Prices
About This Note
This is a Philippines 5 Pesos note from 1942 issued by the Commonwealth of the Philippines, specifically from the Cagayan regional authority. The note displays the characteristic reddish-brown decorative borders and multi-color printing (green, blue, cream) typical of emergency wartime currency. In AU condition, this example shows significant age-related foxing and staining with visible creasing, reflecting its nearly 82-year history; the heavy patina and paper deterioration are consistent with notes stored through tropical climate conditions.
Common. Market data from RealBanknotes indicates consistent eBay sales in the $2.49–$13.73 USD range for circulated to AU examples, with only uncirculated specimens reaching $299.99. The wide availability of sales listings at modest prices indicates substantial print run and regular collector availability. This Cagayan variant, while geographically specific, does not command premium pricing typical of scarce or rare issues.
This 5 Pesos note represents a critical period in Philippine history during World War II and the Japanese occupation. The inscription 'Payable to the bearer on demand after the war' directly references the uncertainty of the period, while the Cagayan regional issuance indicates decentralized emergency currency operations by provincial authorities under Commonwealth government sanction. The 1942 date places this note at the onset of the Pacific War, when the Philippines faced severe currency shortages and economic disruption.
This is a Cagayan provincial emergency currency note featuring a classical bordered design with no portraits or specific landmarks. The ornamental corner elements consist of stylized geometric patterns in reddish-brown that frame the denomination. The primary design uses a two-color printing scheme of green and blue text on a cream/beige base, with decorative reddish-brown borders running around the perimeter. The note's layout emphasizes legal text regarding post-war redemption and provincial authority issuance, typical of Philippine wartime emergency scrip that prioritized authentication language over figurative imagery.
FRONT SIDE: Serial Number: 25655 | 'FIVE PESOS' | 'This certifies that there has been presented in the Shimpon Special Bank for possession of' | 'Payable to the bearer on demand after the war' | BACK SIDE: Serial/Reference Numbers: 26015, 38762 | 'COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES' | 'CAGAYAN' | 'Issued by authority of the Treasurer of the Cagayan over the Provincial Board of Cagayan' | 'Return in accord the way is guaranteed by the' | 'FIVE PESOS'
Letterpress printing with multi-color capability, utilizing separate passes for the reddish-brown borders, green text, and blue serial numbers and signatures. The decorative corner ornaments and border patterns were produced through traditional line-block engraving techniques. This production method was standard for Philippine provincial currency during the 1942 emergency period, relying on locally available printing capacity rather than the central bank's facilities.
This note is cataloged as Pick S191a, identifying it as the 'a' variety of the Philippines 5 Pesos 1942 Cagayan issue. The 'a' designation typically indicates a specific signature combination or printer variant within the Cagayan provincial series. The serial numbers visible (25655 on front, 26015 and 38762 on back) represent individual production batches; serial number prefixes and signature varieties are known to exist within this issue type and should be compared against specialized Philippine banknote catalogs for precise variety determination.
