50 centavos 1942
“Bohol”
About This Note
This is a 50 centavos banknote issued by the Bohol Emergency Currency Board in 1942 under the authority of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. The note exhibits an AU condition grade with visible aging, foxing, and discoloration typical of notes from this era, along with red stamps or markings overlaid across the surface. This emergency currency represents a fascinating piece of Philippine numismatic history, issued during the Japanese occupation period when local authorities were forced to create alternative currency solutions.
Common. While Bohol Emergency Currency Board notes from 1942 are not found in everyday circulation today, they were produced in substantial quantities for local use during the occupation and postwar period. The Pick catalog S134d designation indicates this is a cataloged type with multiple varieties documented, suggesting adequate surviving examples exist for collectors. These notes are regularly available in the collector market and typically command modest prices ($15-50 USD depending on condition), consistent with common emergency issue banknotes from occupied territories during WWII.
The Bohol Emergency Currency Board notes were issued in 1942 during World War II when the Philippines was under Japanese occupation and normal currency supply chains were disrupted. The note bears the inscription 'By Authority of the President of the Philippines in 1942,' reflecting the Commonwealth government's attempt to maintain monetary authority despite wartime conditions. These emergency issues represent a unique intersection of Philippine sovereignty, wartime necessity, and local provincial governance during one of the most turbulent periods in Philippine history.
The banknote features a classical design with no portraits or landmarks depicted, consistent with many emergency currency issues of the period. The design relies on ornamental elements including a scalloped border pattern surrounding the note on both sides and decorative circular frames positioned in the corners of both obverse and reverse. The denomination '50' appears in circular frames in the upper corners on the front and in all four corners on the reverse. The front displays three signature lines representing official authorization (Acting President, Treasurer, Provincial Auditor, and Provincial Fiscal of Bohol). Circular seals appear on the lower portions of the front side, with text around their borders indicating official government authority. The color scheme is a tan/beige background with black printing, characteristic of wartime economy notes with limited color production capabilities.
FRONT SIDE: 'THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES' — The Commonwealth of the Philippines | 'WILL PAY TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND' — Will Pay to the Bearer on Demand | 'SERIES OF 1942' — Series of 1942 | 'IN LAWFUL CURRENCY OF THE PHILIPPINES' — In Lawful Currency of the Philippines | 'BOHOL EMERGENCY CURRENCY BOARD' — Bohol Emergency Currency Board | 'ACTE.PRES.TREAS.PROV.AUDITOR PROV.FISCAL' — Acting President, Treasurer, Provincial Auditor, Provincial Fiscal | '50' — Denomination. REVERSE SIDE: 'ISSUED BY THE' — Issued by the | 'BOHOL EMERGENCY CURRENCY BOARD' — Bohol Emergency Currency Board | 'BY AUTHORITY OF THE' — By Authority of the | 'PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES IN 1942' — President of the Philippines in 1942 | 'TWENTY CENTAVOS' — Twenty Centavos [Note: This appears to be a printing discrepancy; the denomination marked is 50 centavos] | 'CENTAVOS' — Centavos | '50' — Denomination.
Based on the visual characteristics observed—the crisp black text, fine scalloped border patterns, and clear circular frames—this note was produced using letterpress or intaglio printing techniques, standard methods for Philippine banknote production during the 1940s. The ornamental designs and fine line work suggest professional banknote printing despite the emergency nature of the issue. The specific printer for Bohol Emergency Currency Board notes is not definitively documented in standard references, but such provincial emergency notes were typically printed by local government printing facilities or contracted security printers available in the Philippines during the occupation period.
This note is cataloged as Pick S134d, indicating it is a documented variety within the Bohol Emergency Currency Board series. The specific variety designation 'd' suggests there are multiple printings or signature varieties within the 50 centavos denomination issued by this board in 1942. The visual analysis identifies three signature lines (Acting President, Treasurer, Provincial Auditor, Provincial Fiscal), which likely defines this particular variety. A notable discrepancy exists on the reverse where 'TWENTY CENTAVOS' appears despite the denomination being marked as '50' on both sides—this may be a printing error or characteristic of this specific variety. The red/reddish stamps or overprints visible across the note's surface may indicate post-issue markings or vault stamps rather than original design elements.
