MANILA, Philippines - The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has featured hero Andres Bonifacio in its limited edition P10 coin.
The P10 commemorative coin will be released through local banks and central bank branches today.
“This is the BSP’s way of honoring one of the country’s heroes,†central bank Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said in a briefing.
The central bank will mint 10 million pieces of the P10 coin featuring Bonifacio which will have the same size and weight as the P10 coin currently in circulation.
This marks the 10th time the hero was featured in a coin or a bank note.
Back in 1930, Bonifacio was featured in a 10-centavo coin produced exclusively for the Leper Colony in Palawan.
He next appeared in a P20 bill alongside Emilio Jacinto in 1949, and in a commemorative P1 coin in celebration of his 100th birth anniversary in 1963.
Bonifacio was again featured in the Pilipino Series of 1968 and in the Bagong Lipunan Series of 1973 bank notes.
In 1983, Bonifacio appeared in the P2 coin, and in 1997, in a P500 silver coin to commemorate the centennial of his death.
In celebration of the centennial year of Philippine independence in 1998, Bonifacio was featured in a P10 note with Apolinario Mabini.
Both heroes again appeared in a P10 coin in 2000.