5 pesos 1942

Common. The catalog reference P-S648a and serial number range indicate a substantial print run (serial #1 to approximately 240,000 on the back). eBay market prices showing VF examples selling for $15 each in 2025 confirm this is a frequently encountered note in the collector market. While historically significant as a Japanese occupation-era emergency issue, the note was produced in large quantities and remains readily available to collectors.

This emergency currency was issued by provincial authorities in Negros Occidental on January 20, 1942, just weeks after Japan's invasion of the Philippines in December 1941. The note's inscription references authorization by the President of the Philippines and features Manuel Quezon, who led the Philippine Commonwealth during this tumultuous period. As a provincial emergency issue, this note represents a critical response to the breakdown of normal monetary circulation during the early months of Japanese occupation, when the Philippine government and local authorities attempted to maintain economic stability in their territories.

The obverse features a formal portrait of Manuel Quezon positioned on the left side in black ink against a tan/beige background with yellow underprint. The denomination 'FIVE PESOS' is prominently displayed in the center and lower corners in large text. An ornate decorative border with geometric and floral patterns frames all four corners in black and gray tones. The right side displays a red circular official seal/stamp from the City of Bacolod dated January 20, 1942, serving as authentication. Multiple signature lines for authorized committee members (Provincial Fiscal, Provincial Treasurer, and Assistant Provincial Auditor) provide official authorization. The reverse presents a simpler design dominated by yellow/gold coloring, with 'COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES' and the large denomination 'FIVE PESOS' centrally positioned. Ornate geometric corner decorations in yellow appear in all four corners against a cream-colored background. The paper substrate is bond paper characteristic of Philippine emergency issues of this period.

FRONT SIDE: 'FIVE PESOS' (denomination), 'EMERGENCY CIRCULATING NOTE OF 1942' (note classification), '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' (promise clause), 'IN LAWFUL CURRENCY OF THE PHILIPPINES' (denomination specification), 'NEGROS OCCIDENTAL PROVINCIAL CURRENCY COMMITTEE' (provincial issuer), 'QUEZON' (portrait identification), 'Provincial Fiscal Member,' 'Provincial Treasurer Chairman,' 'Asst. Prov. Auditor Member' (signature line titles), 'SERIES OF 1942' (series designation), 'City of Bacolod Jan. 20, 1942' (place and date of official seal), '472711' (serial number). BACK SIDE: 'COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES' (issuer), 'FIVE PESOS' / '5 PESOS' (denomination in large text).

Letterpress printing with hand-applied or stamped overprints. The black portraiture and text on the obverse show characteristics of traditional letterpress printing, while the red seal appears to be a hand-stamped or locally applied official mark. The yellow reverse with decorative borders reflects period printing technology available to provincial authorities in 1942. No sophisticated security printing methods are evident, consistent with emergency wartime currency produced under austere conditions.

This specific note is identified as P-S648a from the Negros Occidental Provincial Currency Committee issue of January 20, 1942. Serial number 472711 falls within the documented range. This represents the standard variety of the Negros Occidental 5 Pesos issue. Known varieties for P-S648a would be distinguished by serial number ranges and any variations in seal placement or committee member signatures, though such distinctions are not evident from the single example provided. The City of Bacolod official seal impression is characteristic of properly authorized notes from this provincial committee issue.