Current Philippine Coins

The New BSP Series

Until 1997, legal tender Philippine Coins consisted of 25 different designs from the English Series to the Improved Flora and Fauna Series. In response to public clamor for simplification, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas issued BSP Circular No. 81 which called for the demonetization of all existing Central Bank coins in circulation. Effective January 2, 1997, only the New BSP coin series was deemed legal tender. In 2000, The 10-Peso coin was introduced, the first bi-metallic coin in Philippine history.

10-Peso Coin


10 Peso Coin - New BSP Series

Ten Piso Coin
New BSP Series

Obverse: Apolinario Mabini and Andres Bonifacio, "Republika ng Pilipinas", 10 Piso, year mark
Reverse: logo of the Bankgo Sentral ng Pilipinas

Shape: round
Edge: interrupted serration
Material: bi-metal ring: core/disc
Composition: bi-metallic
Inner disc: aluminum-bronze (92% copper, 6% aluminum, 2% nickel) Outher ring: cupro-nickel (75% copper, 25% nickel)

Weight: 8.7 grams
Diameter: 26.5 mm

Counterfeit alert
This coin has been counterfeited. Read more...

Philippine Millennium Coin
The 2000 series of these 10-piso coins are actually commemorative coins to celebrate the entry of a new millenium. Click the image below for details.


5 Peso Coin - New BSP Series

Five Piso Coin
New BSP Series

Obverse: Emilio Aguinaldo, "Republika ng Pilipinas", 5 Piso, year mark
Reverse: logo of the Bankgo Sentral ng Pilipinas

Shape: round
Edge: plain (design bordered by 12-scallop)
Material: nickel, brass
Composition: 70% copper, 5.5% nickel, 24.5% zinc

Weight: 7.7 grams
Diameter:
27 mm

This coin has been counterfeited.

1 Peso Coin - New BSP Series

One Piso Coin
New BSP Series

Obverse: Jose Rizal, "Republika ng Pilipinas", 1 Piso, year mark
Reverse: logo of the Bankgo Sentral ng Pilipinas

Shape: round
Edge: reeded
Material: cupro-nickel
Composition: 75% copper, 25% nickel; from 2004 onwards, steel alloy

Weight: 6.1 grams
Diameter: 24 mm

25 Centavo Coin - New BSP Series

25 Sentimo Coin
New BSP Series

Obverse: 25 Sentimo, "Republika ng Pilipinas", year mark
Reverse: logo of the Bankgo Sentral ng Pilipinas

Shape: round
Edge: plain
Material: brass
Composition: 65% copper, 35% zinc

Weight: 3.8 grams
Diameter: 20 mm

10 Centavo Coin - New BSP Series

Ten Sentimo Coin
New BSP Series

Obverse: 10 Sentimo, "Republika ng Pilipinas", year mark
Reverse: logo of the Bankgo Sentral ng Pilipinas

Shape: round
Edge: reeded
Material:
copper-covered steel
Composition: 6% copper balance steel

Weight: 2.5 grams
Diameter: 17 mm

5 Centavo Coin - New BSP Series

Five Sentimo Coin
New BSP Series

Obverse: 5 Sentimo, "Republika ng Pilipinas", year mark
Reverse: logo of the Bankgo Sentral ng Pilipinas

Shape: round with 4mm hole
Edge: plain
Material: copper-covered steel
Composition: 6% copper balance steel

Weight: 1.9 grams
Diameter: 15.5 mm

This coin is the first in Philippine history to have a hole. Due to its small value, it has been used as a washer, as earrings, and various other kinds of ornaments. The hole actually shaves off part of the production cost by requiring less metal to mint a coin. It also helps differentiate the 5 centavo coin from the 10 and 1 centavo coins which are similar in size.

1 Centavo Coin - New BSP Series

One Sentimo Coin
New BSP Series

Obverse: 1 Sentimo, "Republika ng Pilipinas", year mark
Reverse: logo of the Bankgo Sentral ng Pilipinas

Shape: round
Edge: reeded
Material: Copper-covered steel
Composition: 6% copper balance steel

Diameter: 15.5 mm
Weight: 1.9 grams

I scoured a huge bank in my city and found only three of these coins. The rarest of the current coins in use, this denomination is hardly necessary but Bangko Sentral has to mint them because they are required by law.