1912 and 1928: Bank of the Philippine Islands (Printed by US BEP)
1905 and 1916: Philippine Islands Silver Certificates issued with a portrait of Henry Ware Lawton. (Printed by US BEP)
1920: Philippine National Bank Circulating Note. (Printed by US BEP). This note was never officially issued by the Philippine National Bank. 10,000 pieces were captured and issued during World War II by the Japanese. The others were looted by Moros in the Province of Mindanao who sold them at tenth of their face value.
1918 and 1929: Philippine Islands Treasury Certificates issued with a portrait of Henry Ware Lawton.
1936 and 1944: Philippine Commonwealth issued Treasury Certificates. (Printed by US BEP). With a portrait of Henry Ware Lawton. The 1944 (Series No. 66) banknotes had a blue seal and were later overprinted with the word "VICTORY" after the liberation of the Philippines from Japanese rule in 1944.
1949: 50 Peso Bill issues treasury certificates overprinted with the word "VICTORY, CENTRAL BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES".
Version history
Independence
Osmeña first appeared on the fifty peso note upon the release of the Pilipino series notes in 1967.
In 1967, Sergio Osmeña replaced the portrait of Luna. The note is now predominantly red in color. On the reverse, it now features the Old Legislative Building. The design of the obverse was later revised, switching the positions of the "50" on the lower right corner with the Central Bank logo on the upper right, the signature of the Central Bank Governor was placed beside the signature of the President of the Philippines, the font for Republika ng Pilipinas was also changed and the text Limampung Piso was made into one line. This design was later used when the Bagong Lipunan series was released in 1973.
Ang Bagong Lipunan series (1973–1996)
In 1973, the "Ang Bagong Lipunan" text was added and was overprinted on the watermark area.
In 1987, the bill was completely redesigned and new elements regarding Osmeña's achievement as the first Speaker of the Philippine Assembly, a precursor of the current House of Representatives were shown on the right side, namely, the mace and the gavel, the symbols used by the Philippine Congress. Also on the right side is the Fuente Osmeña located in Cebu City, Osmeña's birthplace. The reverse side featured the Old Legislative Building, the home to various legislative bodies of the Philippine government. The banknote was designed by Rafael Asuncion.
After the creation of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in 1993, its new logo was incorporated on all the New Design series bills.
In 1998, the year of printing was added at the bottom of the denomination value located at the upper left corner of the obverse.
In 1999, the names of the signatories on the bills were added starting with banknotes featuring the signature of President Joseph Estrada.
Starting with banknotes featuring the signature of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2001, the name of the Old Legislative Building (Dating Gusali ng Batasan, with the name was located at the lower-left side) on the reverse side was changed to the "National Museum" (Gusali ng Pambansang Museo) and the name was moved at the top of the building, to reflect the turnover made by the Congress of the Philippines to the National Museum. The name of the building's facade was changed from "Executive House" to "National Museum". Also, the serial number was moved at the top of the denomination that was located on the lower left side of the banknote.
New Generation series (2010–present)
In 2010, the portrait of Sergio Osmeña was revised, a picture of the first Philippine Assembly and Osmeña and General Douglas MacArthur's landing in Leyte was added on the lower left corner and bottom center of the note respectively. The reverse now features the Taal Lake and the giant trevally.[4]
In 2017, an updated version of the New Generation series 50 piso banknote was issued with changes in the font size of the year of issue and the italicization of the scientific name on the reverse side. The text "October 1944" was added after the word "Leyte Landing" on the obverse.[5]
In 2020, an enhanced version of the 50 peso banknote was released. It added one pair of tactile marks for the visually impaired, on both the extreme left and right side of the front of the note.
The new BSP logo, which was redesigned in January 2021 was adopted in all NGC banknotes starting with the 2022 issued banknotes featuring the signatures of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and BSP Governor Felipe Medalla.
Version history
Commemorative issues
Throughout its existence, the fifty peso bill have been overprinted to commemorate certain events, namely:
100th Birth Anniversary of Sergio Osmeña commemorative bill - In 1978, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas introduced 50-peso banknotes with an overprint for the birth centenary of former President Sergio Osmeña. The words, "IKA-100 TAONG KAARAWAN 1878-1978" ("100th Birth Anniversary 1878-1978") are placed near the portrait.
50 years of Central Banking commemorative bill - In 1997, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas introduced the 50-peso banknotes with an overprint commemorating 50 years of central banking. The overprint shows the Old BSP Building in Intramuros and the New BSP Complex in Malate, Manila. It appears on the watermark area in red. The second version, released on the central bank's 50th anniversary in 1999, has a year mark and with the signature of President Joseph Estrada.
60 years of Central Banking commemorative bill - On July 9, 2009, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas introduced 12 million banknotes (2 million banknotes for each denomination) with an overprint commemorating 60 years of central banking. The overprint appears on the watermark area on all six circulating denominations.
45th ASEAN celebration commemorative note - A total of 10 million pieces bearing the ASEAN logo were released into general circulation to commemorate the 45th ASEAN Day celebration held on August 10.[6][7] Souvenir copies containing an uncut sheet of four notes were presented to the nine members of ASEAN during the celebrations.
San Pedro Calungsod canonization commemorative note - On February 4, 2013, the BSP announced the release of a special limited edition note featuring the new Filipino saint, Saint Pedro Calungsod, this note was scheduled to be released on April 2, 2013, the month that the Philippines will celebrate the first feast of Calungsod as a saint. The overprint features a portrait of Pedro Calungsod, the dates 1672–2012, the words "St. Pedro Calungsod Canonization" and the quote "LIFE THAT IS OFFERED FAITH THAT IS PROCLAIMED".[8][9][10][11][12][13]
Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation 50th Anniversary commemorative note - Issued on June 20, 2013, to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the state deposit insurer Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC). The blue overprint consists of their logo and its customer philosophy "Committed to serve".[14][15]
Trinity University of Asia 50th Anniversary commemorative note - Issued to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Trinity University of Asia. The commemorative note consists of the seal and the words "TUA @ 50: ACHIEVING OUR GOLDEN DREAMS".[16]
Printing years
Notes
^Esquire Magazine: How To Make Money
^Esquire Magazine: How To Make Money
^Shafer, Neil (1964). A Guide Book of Philippine Paper Money. Racine, WI: Whitman Publishing Co. pp. 29, 74–76, 94–95, 105–106.
^Cory, Ninoy together again on new 500-peso bill, Jam Sisante, GMANews.TV, December 16, 2010
^BSP Releases New Generation Currency Banknotes with Enhanced Design and the Signature of the Fourth Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, December 5, 2017
^Philippines new 50-peso ASEAN commemorative note confirmed BanknoteNews.com. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
^A press release on the issuance of the commemorative 50-peso note dated August 8, 2012 Department of Foreign Affairs (www.dfa.gov.ph). Retrieved August 10, 2012.
^St. Pedro Calungsod commemorative bill out soon Philippine Information Agency. February 4, 2013. Retrieved on February 4, 2013.
^Bishops approve special 'San Pedro bills' Sun Star Cebu. February 2, 2013. Retrieved on February 5, 2013.
^Philippines new 50-peso San Pedro Calungsod commemorative reported BanknoteNews.com. February 5, 2013. Retrieved on February 6, 2013.
^St. Pedro Calungsod commemorative banknote out soon Pinoy Numismatist Network (pinoynumismatistnetwork.wordpress.com). February 10, 2013. Retrieved on February 14, 2013.
^50 Peso Canonization of St. Pedro Calungsod Overprint date 2013 confirmed Pinoy Numismatist Network (pinoynumismatistnetwork.wordpress.com). May 5, 2013. Retrieved on May 6, 2013.
^Philippines new 50-peso St. Pedro Calungsod commemorative reported BanknoteNews.com. May 5, 2013. Retrieved on May 8, 2013.
^Philippines new 50-peso PDIC commemorative note confirmed BanknoteNews.com. June 28, 2013. Retrieved on June 28, 2013.
