1939 Philippine Centavo
Base
About This Coin
The 1939 Philippine Centavo is a United States cent from the Philippines Centavos 1903-1945 series. The obverse features a male figure seated beside a hammer and anvil, while the reverse displays an eagle above a shield, with UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Designed by Melecio Figueroa. Struck in bronze. Philippine centavos were struck under American sovereignty following the 1898 Treaty of Paris. Filipino artist Melecio Figueroa designed the coins, blending American sovereignty symbols with Philippine cultural elements. The series spans the colonial, Commonwealth, and WWII occupation eras. WWII-era issues (1944-1945) struck at the San Francisco and Philadelphia Mints are collected separately from pre-war Manila Mint coins. The complete series documents a critical chapter in Philippine-American history.