5 pesos 1942

Common. The eBay market data shows multiple listings ranging from $2.49 to $13.73 USD for circulated and fine condition examples, with the highest price ($299.99) reserved for an uncirculated specimen. The large quantity of listings at consistently low price points ($2–$14 range) indicates substantial surviving population and ready market availability. Philippine emergency certificates from 1942 were issued in high volumes across multiple provinces to address wartime currency needs, resulting in common status despite their historical interest. This VF-graded example would likely command prices in the $5–$10 range, consistent with common-grade wartime emergency currency.

This Emergency Treasury Certificate was issued during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in 1942, when the Commonwealth government authorized provincial treasuries to issue emergency currency to maintain economic function. The 'RESCUED' stamps visible across both sides suggest the certificate survived the war and was recovered during post-war restoration efforts. The Provincial Treasurer, Auditor, and Governor signature lines reflect the decentralized emergency authority granted to local officials when normal banking infrastructure was disrupted by invasion and warfare.

This emergency certificate features a utilitarian design typical of wartime currency production. Rather than portraits or elaborate landmarks, the design emphasizes legal text and official authorization, with the denomination prominently displayed as '₱5.00'. The document includes three signature lines on the front (Provincial Treasurer, Provincial Auditor, and Governor) and one on the back (Governor), reflecting the provincial authority structure. The reverse side carries the critical legal declaration establishing the certificate as legal tender, backed by presidential authority and redeemable post-war. No elaborate vignettes or security imagery is present; instead, security relies on the signatures and the official certification language. The 'SEVENTH SERIES' designation indicates this was part of a numbered series of such emergency issues.

FRONT SIDE: 'THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES' / 'EMERGENCY TREASURY CERTIFICATE' / '₱5.00' (Five Pesos) / 'PROVINCE OF ILOCOS NORTE' / 'No. DO 17220' / 'Ilocos Norte, June 15, 1942' / 'THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT THE ISSUANCE of this emergency certificate for the amount of FIVE PESOS has been duly authorized by the President of the Philippines and is redeemable after the war.' / 'SEVENTH SERIES' / Signature lines for: 'Prov. Treasurer' (Provincial Treasurer), 'Prov. Auditor' (Provincial Auditor), and 'Governor' / BACK SIDE: '₱5.00' / 'EMERGENCY TREASURY CERTIFICATE' / 'No. DO 17220 D' / 'SEVENTH SERIES' / 'By authority of the President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines I hereby order the issuance of this emergency certificate which for all intents and purposes is hereby declared legal tender. This certificate will be redeemed by the Commonwealth of the Philippines. Refusal to accept this certificate is punishable by law.' / 'Governor' signature line.

This Emergency Treasury Certificate appears to have been produced via letterpress printing, evidenced by the crisp, uniform impressions of text and the straightforward typographic layout. The consistent ink application and clean edges of the letterforms are characteristic of mechanized letterpress production from the 1940s. No intaglio (engraved) security features are evident. The handwritten signatures visible in the signature areas and the dated location line were likely added by hand after printing. The 'RESCUED' stamps in purple appear to be applied post-war, likely via rubber stamp.

This note is identified as certificate number DO 17220 (front) / DO 17220 D (back), from the Seventh Series, issued by Ilocos Norte Province on June 15, 1942. The serial number sequence and provincial designation define this variety within the larger 1942 emergency certificate series. The presence of the 'RESCUED' overprint indicates post-war handling and recovery, which may distinguish preserved examples from those without such markings. Provincial emergency certificates exist with regional variations based on issuing province (Ilocos Norte in this case), each with distinct serial number prefixes and potentially different signature combinations, though the overall design template remains consistent across provinces.