Piloncitos - the first coins of the Philippines


Piloncitos are tiny engraved bead-like gold bits unearthed in the Philippines. They are the first recognized coinage in the Philippines circulated between the 9th and 12th centuries. They emerged when increasing trade made barter inconvenient.

The term piloncito comes from the word pilon, a local sugar container that resembles the coin. They are engraved with the Brahmanic character "ma" which looks like an upside down "R". We can only guess that this character refers to the pre-colonial kingdom of Ma-yi which is roughly the Philippines we know today.

Many piloncitos were unknowingly melted into jewelry in the past and very few exist today.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

,....meron na pala tayong salapi nuon pamang bago dumating ang mga kastila,.its a great discovery!!!!.. now can say that we're almost the same as of western countries,before the new world...

Anonymous said...

for sale a 100 peso W/UP logo.just texr or call me @ 4284961 or 09289379706...look for mr. jeorge..

Anonymous said...

meron ako for sale 100 peso with U.P logo..negotiable. just text or call me at 09293062950

Anonymous said...

guys..i have 10 pcs. of 100 pesos with UP logo..you wanna buy?(price negotiable).just send me an email at graceus17@yahoo.com
thanks..:D

Anonymous said...

meron na akong 100 peso bill na may UP logo..hehehe

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

I have here several pieces of 100 peso bill with the UP logo centennial .. txt me if your interested .. 092357242287

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

i have some centennial 100 peso bill..if your interrested you can e-mail me at bogart1233@yaho.com or txt me..09268777762..i'm near in trinoma,can be also in lucena city or some part of quezon provice

Anonymous said...

helow sa lahat na interested sa 100 peso bill with UP logo...txt or call me at 09084273438.

grace said...

Rush Sale
40pcs of 100 peso with UP CEntennial logo. pls call me 9422259 or 09065140277
ASAP

Anonymous said...

i have some 100 peso up centennial bill..i sell them 200 per piece...contact me 09268777762 or mail me at lemuel369@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

may 44pcs ako nyan 100 peso bill na may up logo benta ko lng p200 txt or call me here 09166262626

Anonymous said...

I am paul I have a 31 pcs. of 100/UP logo. I got those 100 bills one by one. Each time I go to the grocery, wet market,any anywhere else. If someone is interested to buy my 100 bills just email or text your bid to paul_matthew_alonzo@yahoo.com.ph /09206651439.

Anscar said...

I have 11 pcs. 100 peso bill w/ UP Centennial logo. Pls. txt me if interested. 09197861394

khimcong said...

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khimcong said...

hello meron aqng 100 peso up bill i have 10 pcs......ill be selling it in a low price just text me 09065139005 its negotiable.....maybe 700 peso maximum.....tnx and God bless

mary anne chua said...

meron po aqng 100 at 200 na mi banknotes.. price negotiable po.. txt me nlng po.. 09339732439.. rush selling po.. tnx.. :)))))))

Unknown said...

Challenge Coins

I have a several countries coins and also banknotes but have not Philippine coins and banknote.

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