1944 Fifty Centavos - USA?

[Mcdetect]

Ok this one had me scratching my head at the park. A 1944 fifty centavos coin marked United States of America...and Filipinas. As I now know from research the coin was minted when the Philippines was a US territory. It's 75% silver and between the size of a US half dollar and US quarter. It was between 10" and 12" deep under a pine tree at a pounded out park. The signal and ID was kind of squirrely but I thought it had some good sound to it so I dug and dug and dug. Huge number of roots in the hole but somehow I managed not to hit the coin.

From a Web page I found...
The Philippines was ceded to the United States as part of the settlement between Spain and the United States at the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898. A self-governing commonwealth was established in 1935. The U.S. granted the Republic of The Philippines full independence on July 4, 1946.

Learning history through detecting. Thrilled to have this cool coin!

 

[miffdan]

The Philippines weren't fully liberated from the Japanese until the Japanese surrender in August 1945. The 1944 50 centavo coin was struck at the San Francisco mint. An interesting piece of history you found there. Very cool.

 

[sddavid]

A really nice find, congrats

 

[BillF]

I found one about 3 years ago with my Vaquero. Nice surprise. Good for you!

 

[Drakester]

Cool find! HH

 

[Mcdetect]

Since it is a 1944 there is a tie in to WW2. Japan occupied the Philippines for several years during WW2. According to some sources I found they took a lot of the Philippines coinage and melted it down during the occupation. The US struck this coin in huge numbers to bring with them when they returned to the Philippines to celebrate its liberation from Japanese occupation just before Japan's surrender in WW2...and to provide much needed coinage to the newly liberated Philippines.

 

[Mcdetect]

The coin is valued at melt so I started to clean it up with a wet baking soda rub. Here's what it looks like so far...

 

[GeorgeinSC]

During the period of time that the Philippines was a US protectorate all their money said United States of America During at least 1945 coinage was minted in the us for them.

I have a 1945 20 centavos that was minted in Denver. I found it in WV. I also have a 1941 20 centavos that was minted in Manila and I picked it up I PI.

Excellent find and Congratulations.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Neat find Mcdetect! I've dug the 1 centavo, 5 centavos, 10 centavos and 20 centavos Philippine coins but never a 50 centavos. Congratulations! Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Love finding those foreign coins and yours is a real nice one - congrats !