The Philippine Peso is the official currency of the
Philippines. It is also known by the Tagalog name, piso. The currency is subdivided
into 100 sentimo (also referred to as centavos).
Coins
The Philippine Peso (PHP) is the currency of the Philippines. The coin’s value is
directly related to the people’s perception of stability and the ability to repay debt. It
has a mass of grams and a diameter of 20 mm.
The peso was introduced in 1972. Before this, the Philippines used fiat banknotes.
Deliberate overprinting of these notes resulted in a decline in the peso by almost
300 percent against the dollar. In 2010, the peso was worth 7 fils, or 0.077 dirham.
From 1958 to 1963, the Philippines struck coins from the Philadelphia Mint in the
United States. The obverse of these coins featured a seated man holding an anvil
and volcano. These coins were made in a nickel-brass composition.
After independence, the Philippines issued coins in copper-nickel, brass, silver, and
bronze. In 1967, the obverses of all of these coins were changed to reflect Filipino
names for the different units. They included the 5-piso, 10-piso, and 25-piso.
A new series of coins was introduced in 1973. The new series consisted of a cupronickel five centavo. This was the largest denomination of the series.
One peso coins are also minted. The coin’s size is about the same as a one-dollardignity coin from the United Arab Emirates.
The 50 centavos are popular American collectors. They feature a likeness of General
Douglas MacArthur, and they have been reported to have a mintage of 200,000.
Ang Bagong Lipunan Series is a collection of the coins of the Philippine Peso. These
coins were issued in various mints, and they commemorate the declaration of
Martial Law by Marcos. Many coins from this series circulate in the Philippines.
Other coins in the Flora and Fauna Series were also issued. Some of these coins were
a bit smaller in size than other coins in the series.
Banknotes
The Philippine Peso is the official currency of the Philippines. It is derived from the
Spanish peso and is subdivided into 100 sentimos. The currency is also known as
“piso” in Filipino.
There is no fixed exchange rate for the Philippine Peso. However, the US dollar is
valued more highly than the PHP in the global currency market.
As the Philippine Peso is a free-floating currency, the exchange rate fluctuates by
the minute. For instance, it was trading at about 20/USD in 1986. If the exchange
rate goes down, it can be a good incentive to send more money to relatives in the
country.
Aside from the official rates, there are several other factors that affect the exchange
rate. For example, the economy of the country will determine whether the value of
the currency will go up or down.
Another important fact is that the Philippines used to be a colony of the United
States. This gave the country its name. During the colonization, the country was
under 48 years of age.
After gaining independence in 1946, the Philippine Peso depreciated substantially.
This was caused by the black market for the currency. Foreigners were discouraged
from investing in the country because of the high black market exchange rates.
Eventually, the black market disappeared.
One of the ways to avoid the high exchange rates is to use a money transfer service.
These companies offer coupons and discounted rates. They also provide discounts
for first-time transfers. You can find a list of top companies by comparing their
services.
In the 1990s, the Philippine currency went through several changes. One major
change was the introduction of the New Design Series. This was a series of
banknotes issued between 1985 and 1993.
Value of a centavo
The Philippine peso is divided into centavos. A centavo is a unit of currency that is
equal to one dollar in United States terms. These coins are made of silver and can be
legally used to buy any amount of goods. However, there are counterfeit versions
that have entered the circulation.
During the Spanish occupation, Philippines coins were minted in gold. In addition to
the gold coins, the issue of silver fractional coins was also minted. Those coins were
in denominations of ten, twenty, and fifty centavos.
After the American Civil War, the Republic of the Philippines was established. At first,
the coins were a mix of bronze and nickel-brass. Eventually, the American
Government decided that silver coins minted in the Philippines were cheaper to
produce.
When the Commonwealth period ended, the coins were reduced in size. These were
called the Pilipino Series. They were minted by a variety of mints, including the
Philadelphia Mint.
In 1959, the Central Bank of the Philippines, the country’s sole monetary authority,
introduced a new coin. This series consisted of silver coins in denominations of ten,
twenty, fifty, and one hundred. The obverse featured a seated man with an anvil and
volcano, while the reverse showed the national coat of arms.
In 1967, the design was changed. The denomination was moved to the reverse. It
now read “Republic of the Philippines” and the inscription around the coat of arms
changed to “Central Bank of the Philippines.”
In 1970, the coins were changed again. This time, they were resized to the same
size as US coins. Some of these coins were minted in Canada by Sherritt. Eventually,
all of the Philippine coins were resized to the same diameter as US equivalents.
Converting US dollars into Philippine pesos
If you’re traveling to the Philippines you may want to convert US dollars to Philippine
pesos. You’ll be pleased to learn that you can find a wide variety of banks and
financial institutions with ATMs in the country. So if you’re wondering how to get the
best deal, make sure you shop around.
There’s an abundance of free currency conversion calculators that can help you find
the best rate. The best bet is to go to a bank with an ATM nearby, although you can
also do the same at home using your mobile banking app. Most big cities in the
Philippines accept credit cards.
For the budget minded, you’ll find that HSBC and Citibank offer ATMs in the country.
Using an ATM can save you a significant amount of money when converting US
dollars to pesos. This is particularly useful if you’re going outside of the major
metros.
Having an emergency cash stash on hand is always a good idea, especially if you
plan on spending a significant amount of time abroad. A well stocked wallet will help
you avoid the dreaded foreign exchange fee. Also, most banking apps include a
feature for locating ATMs in your vicinity. Using an ATM can even save you from
stumbling upon a scam.
In the US, a buck can get you a lot of bang for your buck, thanks to its status as the
world’s reserve currency. However, its relative worth is largely determined by US
economic activity. Whether or not the economy gets better or worse will remain a
mystery for the foreseeable future, but one thing is certain. With the incoming
administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, the country’s prospects will likely be
influenced by the policies enacted by the Marcos administration.
ATMs in the Philippines
A bank-operated ATM is a convenient way to access your money without having to
visit the bank. There are many types of ATMs, each with varying fees and withdrawal
limits. It’s important to know the best options for you.
If you are visiting the Philippines, it’s a good idea to check with your home bank
before you leave. Some banks offer free access to their ATMs when traveling. They
may also be able to provide you with an online account where you can withdraw
cash, check your balance, and transfer money within minutes.
When you arrive in the Philippines, stock up on cash. There is a high rate of identity
theft in the country, and it is wise to carry as much money as possible in the local
currency. You should also carry travellers cheques to back up your plastic.
If you plan to spend a lot of money, you should consider bringing a foreign credit
card. These cards can be used to make purchases in the Philippines. Foreign
cardholders are subject to a higher daily limit than local customers.
Credit cards are not accepted at most provincial places, so it’s a good idea to bring
enough cash to cover your needs. This means taking along a few thousand pesos or
more.
Before you leave, look up the bank’s fee structure and minimum withdrawal limits.
Many ATMs in the Philippines only give you a daily limit of ten thousand pesos or
less.
If you have an overseas bank account, you can send money to your Philippines bank
account online. Having access to a foreign account allows you to avoid the fees
associated with using a Philippine ATM.
The Bank of the Philippine Islands is the best option for foreigners. Customers can
only withdraw up to a maximum of six transactions per day.