The 1906-S Peso, the last of the large size pesos produced from 1903-1906 for the US Philippines, is a scarce coin indeed! The large size pesos were valued at two pesos per one US dollar. Due to that fact, the silver coinage in the Philippines was quickly disappearing as the silver value was more than the face value. Due to the rising cost of silver, over 12 million pesos were shipped back to the San Fransisco Mint to be re-coined as the new smaller pesos. This resulted in a small mintage for the 1906-S peso as minting of this coin was stopped and all remaining 1906-s Pesos were shipped back and melted. The final mintage was 201,000 but the actual number released into circulation is believed to be just a few hundred. On another forum, I wrote the following concerning a poster who believes that there are around 1,000 1906-S pesos left: " I would find it very hard to believe there are 1,000 left. I see a lot more proofs with mintages of 500 or less than I do of the 1906-S pesos. PCGS has graded 28, NGC 17, and ICG 3. That's 48 assuming no crossovers or upgrades which is unlikely. Assuming there are a decent amount unknown or in foreign collections, I would find it hard to believe that there are more than 200 genuine 1906-S pesos in existence." The 1906-S peso is a scarce coin, but to make matters worse, the 1906-S is heavily counterfeited. Both cast counterfeits and altered date examples exist. There are a few diagnostics to help us determine which is a genuine and which is a forgery. In 1905, around OCT or NOV (depending on the source) the dies were changed from a curved serif to a straight serif; thus all 1906-S pesos will have a straight serif, except one die marriage. I will discuss the straight serif dies first. On the straight serif, there are a few diagnostics to look at: 1) The first point is always the safer of the "1", If it is straight proceed to (2), If it is curved as in picture group 3, then it is fake, if it has a slight curve as in picture group 2, then proceed with (2). 2) Count the denticles starting from the right side of the "1", the 12th denticle will be directly under the base of the "6" on a genuine 1906-S Peso. If so, proceed to (3). 3) Count the denticles starting on the left side of the "1". If the "S" mintmark is directly under the 7th denticle, proceed to (5). If the "S" mint mark is in between the 6th and 7th denticle, then move to (4). 4) On pesos were the "S" mint mark falls in between the 6th and 7th denticle, there will be a die crack under the left wing of the eagle extending down into the three arrows as in picture group 2. If this die crack is not present, then it is more than likely not genuine as all known genuine pieces show this die crack. If the die crack is present, move to (5). 5) Look at the "9", all genuine examples have a larger and rounder knob. If so, move to (6) 6) Check the "0", on genuine examples, the upper inner lop to the right of the "0" is straight rather than oval (hard to see from pictures). If so, move to (7). 7) Check the "6", all genuine examples will show the knob of the "6" in a slightly teardrop shape instead of round. If your example passed all of the above diagnostics, you more than likely have a genuine 1906-S peso. The edges should still be checked for seams, and the coin should be weighed (29.95g). I also recommend all genuine 1906-S pesos to be verified by a top grading company (PCGS or NGC). Group 1, Genuine Straight Serif 1906-S Peso. Group 2, Genuine slight curve serif with die crack; 1906-S Peso. Group 3, Curved Serif, altered date, counterfeit 1906-S Peso. (This counterfeit peso actually made it into a Heritage auction, until the company was alerted by collectors that it was indeed a counterfeit. As a collector, it is up to you to educate yourself, do not rely on anyone concerning rare and expensive coins. Before you make the purchase, you should be able to explain to anyone how you know the coin is genuine.) Read more about the wonderful world of US Philippine Coins: http://www.cointalk.com/t211332/
Hi, I'm new to CoinTalk. You mentioned that there are two dies for 1906s US Philippine Peso. I have observed that most of those posted in websites belong to Group 2, Genuine slight curve serif with die crack 1906-S Peso. But based from what you know which is more scarce. The Group 1 coins or the Group 2 coins?
There are three types of 1906-S Peso. The two dies that were mentioned were for the 1905-S Peso, of which there are curved serifs and straight serifs know. The straight serif 1905-S Pesos are much more scarce than the curved serif 1905-S Pesos. As far as the 1906-S Pesos, I believe the type 1 is more scarce and the type 3 (slight curved serif) is somewhere in the middle. After reading what I posted originally, I believe I might need to re-write it as it might not make much sense to someone not versed in this series.
Thank you for the reply. Can you discuss further in detail the three types of 1906S Peso? How they differ from each other? And history why there are three types? Thanks.
Gotta love that Jhinton dude. He sure knows his Philippine issues and is a worthy asset to the forum in that regard.
This is a rather crude example of an altered date 1906-S Peso. Based on the position of the numbers in the date, I believe this was actually a 1905-S peso. Notice the discolored "6", large curve on the serif of the "1", and the obvious tooling marks, whizzed area around the end of the date. Also note, that while this is an easy one to spot I have seen a few that were very good and could easily fool the uninformed. I cannot stress enough the importance of only buying this particular coin IF it has been certified OR you know enough to certify it yourself.
Well just get an 03 or an 04, looks the same except for the date, and is a lot cheaper. Maybe it's just me, but rare types make me want to an own a coin. Rare dates just make me wish I had it to sell, for money to by more common coins. Why I collect by type rather than by date I guess. The number "6" just isn't that exciting to me. P.S. This thread was resurrected just to show another picture of a fake, which as you (the OP, not mumu) say are more common than the real ones? And a worse fake than you already posted a picture of. Er, what's the point of that? I could have figured out that one was fake and I've never even seen these outside of pictures. I mean, clearly you know a lot about these and glad you're sharing your knowledge with us, but that doesn't seem to be that interesting thing to add. A pic of a real one you just found, now that would be something. I don't know, maybe I'm just to cynical to appreciate rare coins that look just like common coins but with a different date on them. It's hard for me to think of some coin as the holy grail when it looks like millions of other grails but with a different number on the side. But well, to each their own. I've seen one of the 1933 double eagles up close (one of the 10 confiscated from Israel Switt's descendants, that the government put on display in Denver in 2006) and it did look nice... but well, I've seen more common ones that look just as nice, some even nicer. The "there's only 13 of these known to exist (though there could be hundreds of others hiding somewhere for all we know), and only one of them is in private hands" just didn't give me that much of a thrill looking at it. I just don't feel it I guess. Well good (if rather obvious) advice; if you have that kind of money to throw around educate yourself before buying something like this.
Yeah I wouldnt get a keydat. An 03 would do. I would just need to decide between MS or Proof. There is a great phillipne us coin site of a dealer in NJ with several examples I like but they never return emails.
Very good write up, two thumbs up!!. I had no idea that the 1906 was the one to look out for so that's some really good information and I'll keep an eye out even though I may never ever see one. It's always fun to know something about a coin that other people don't. It puts you at a great advantage to help yourself or others. Bottom line is what you wrote above. :thumb:
Update to this thread, I have since purchased and sold two more 1906-s pesos and a new 1906-s counterfeit that will remain in my study collection of us Philippine counterfeits.
Was not here when you wrote the OP, but I read it and it is an excellent post. One of the best I ever read here.
Two for sale right now in the US Philippine circles. One is AU and the other is AU details. PM me if your interested.
One could call this Philippines 1903 peso "certified" by a Chinese merchant: Philippines peso 1903-S with chopmarks.
