Etiquette: coin or towels

I have a question about etiquette when gifting a particular Phillipine coin to a bride from the Phillipines. I might have another need to present a gift. Should I go with the coin, or kitchen towels?

Here is the story:
A friend recently married a gal from the Phillipines (an internet bride). I was wanted to gift them a coin as part of their gifts. The coin I had first considered was the Phillipine 50 Centares - 1947s MacArthur Commemerative BU.

Since I was afraid that the coin might be controversial, I decided to not include it. I ended up sending a silver coin from Greece, 30 drachmai, 1947 Wedding Comm. BU.

So my question is, do you think the Phillipine 50 Centares, MacArthur Comm, would have been fine to send? The groom is a veteran of USMC, so I felt he might appreciate the MacAurthur part, but I was not sure if the Bride would be sensitive to it (occupation).

Thanks,


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Sounds to me like you have put a lot of thought into it. I only gift coins to people I know collect them or if the coin has some direct relevance to an event. For example, the Royal Mint makes coins for specific occasions. I would probably try to avoid any potential controversy. Sounds like you did fine though. TC

 

Tess, I think the coin would make a great gift

 

It would be a fine gift. MacArthur is, if I recall, a bit of a hero in the Philippines. Remember, the coin you're talking about was made under the independent Philippines!

 

I'll go along with that. Don't know all the details but if a bride from the Philipines is anything like women everywhere, I would first of all find out what the bride wants. In almost every instance, the groom is a minor individual in a wedding. And stays that way for a long, long time toooooooooo. :goofer:

 

As I remember, it was the US that saved the Philippines' bacon from the Japanese and then granted them independence following WWII. The coin would have been just fine, however, the coin you sent was most thoughtful indeed.....

 

The ideal gift

 

I did not realize that. After I get to know her a bit better, I can just ask. I know they were supper thrilled with the one silver coin from Greece. I receive an extra thoughtful thank you note. I get the feeling they appeciate coins, but not sure about collecting. The Groom is big on Harley Davidson motorcycles. I know a lot of folks that like old cars, boats, and motorcycles : almost all of them have a coin collection of some size.

Thanks.

 

In an earlier life, I was the IT coordinator for one of those "Send $15/month and you can feed a family" kind of organizations. It was actually an AWESOME organization that did what they said they did.

Anyways. At one point, as the main IT guy, I visited the Philipines to check out their IT operations for our company.

I mentioned to one of the people that my dad had been part of the LEYTE operation. Long story short - we made a big detour of our normal tour of the philippine islands and they brought me to the beach where I was properly photographed and they bought me several souvenirs. I wept.

I don't think you need to worry about offending Phillipino people about your US roots.

 

@pocketchange: Good story, and good reminder.
Thanks, Sunflower.