A few years ago, I posted a two-part story about foregin personalities on classic-era US commemorative coins. (You can find them here:
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Foreign Personalities - Part I-
Foreign Personalities - Part III've decided to circle back to this topic and add a coin set that features a foreign peronality on each of its three issues. I refer to the 1936 US-Philippines Commonweath Establishment coins and Manuel Luis Quezon. I'm in the camp that considers the coinage of the Philippines struck while it was a Territory or Commonwealth of the US to be part of the overall US coinage series.
A little about Quezon...
- Quezon was born on August 19, 1878 in Baler, Luzon Island, Philippines; Luzon is the main northern island of the Philippines archipelago, Baler is on the main island's eastern side.
- He joined the Philippine Revolutionary Army and fought with Emilio Aguinaldo against the US in the Philippine-American War from 1899-1901.
- Post-war, he returned to his law studies and earned his Law degree in 1903.
- Served two consecutive terms in the Philippine Assembly (1909-1915), then was elected to the Philippine Senate where he served from 1916 to 1935.
- Elected as President of the Philippine Commonwealth, and served from 1935 to 1944.
- The Japanese invasion of the Philippines during World War II caused Quezon to evacuate the Philippines and relocate to the United States - after some time in Australia. He headed the Philippine Government-in-Exile until his death; he was succeeded by Sergio Osmeņa.
- Quezon died on August 1, 1944 in Saranac Lake, New York after battling tuberculosis. Quezon was originally buried in Arlington National Cemetary, but his remains were brought back to the Philippines after Philippine Independence in July 1946.
Most germane to the present commemorative coin discussion, Quezon was the first President of the Philippine Commonwealth, and thus a natural figure to present on the coins marking the establishment of the Commonwealth.
1936 US-Philippines Commonealth Establishment - 50 Centavos
1936 US-Philippines Commonealth Establishment - One Peso / Roosevelt
1936 US-Philippines Commonealth Establishment - One Peso / Murphy
Category: Foreign-born, lived primarily in Philippines, died in the US.I am a fan of the US-PI series, and am happy to include a matched set of brilliant PCGS MS-65 US-PI 1936 Commonwealth coins in my collection.
Posted 12/22/2024 9:33 pm
