Coin Collection: The Flora and Fauna Series

In 1983, the flora and fauna series of coins were first minted and introduced to the public. During my childhood, this was the coinage I grew up to know. The 1, 5, and 10 centavos were made from aluminum and was rarely accepted as currency in small stores so we played with those coins as play money. We called them "kulikak" and until now I have no idea where the term came from and what it really means. In case you know, maybe you can share. The 25 centavo coin, we called "binting", was the smallest acceptable denomination. The 50 centavo coin was nickel and featured the Philippine Eagle. We called this one "salapi". I'm not sure, but I think this coin is where the coin toss "tao o ibon" came from. Then there is the iconic "piso", 1 peso, with the tamaraw. Its funny because we all thought it was the carabao. I remember the first time I spent 1 peso because I called it "uno" instead of piso, which made the tindera laugh. Of course who can forget the unique, decagon shaped, 2 peso coin we call "dos". This was the highest coin denomination at the time; the five peso was still paper. The last year of minting for this series was in 1990. In 1991 they reduced the size of the coins, made the 2 peso coin round, but retained the 1, 5, and 10 centavos.

I recently collected the entire series. The 1, 5, and 10 centavo coins however are not from 1983. The rest from 25 centavos to the 2 peso coin are all 1983's. Again my goal is to complete a 1983 set. For now I'll make do with different dates.

Kulikak (1, 5, 10 centavo coins)

Obverse: Lapu lapu, "Republika ng Pilipinas", year mark

Reverse: Voluta imperialis, 1 Sentimo

Obverse: Melchora Aquino, "Republika ng Pilipinas", year mark

Reverse: Vanda sanderiana (Waling waling, a rare and highly-prized orchid endemic to the island of Mindanao)

Obverse: Francisco Baltasar, "Republika ng Pilipinas", year mark

Reverse: Pandaka pygmaea, 10 Sentimo

Binting (25 Centavos)

Obverse: Juan Luna, "Republika ng Pilipinas", year mark

Reverse: Graphium idaeoides, 25 Sentimo

Salapi (50 Centavos)

Obverse: Marcelo H. del Pilar, "Republika ng Pilipinas", year mark

Reverse: Pithecophaga jefferyi (Philippine Eagle/Monkey-eating Eagle), 50 Sentimo

Piso (1 peso)

Obverse: Jose Rizal, "Republika ng Pilipinas", year mark

Reverse: Anoa mindorensis (tamaraw), 1 Piso

Dos (2 pesos)

Obverse: Andres Bonifacio, "Republika ng Pilipinas", year mark



Reverse: Cocos nucifera, 2 Piso

There you have it. My own Flora and Fauna coin collection. Info on the coins from:

http://philmoney.blogspot.com/search/label/Flora%20and%20Fauna%20Series 

I will share with you a cool trivia about the 50 centavo coin on my next post. This is all for now.

Enjoy!