Today's Journal entry is the second installment in my weekly series on the United States coinage for the Philippine Islands. The first of the twenty slots that compose a NGC USA-Philippines Type Set is the Half Centavo of 1903 - 1908.

The Half Centavo was designed by Filipino artist Melicio Figueroa and engraved by U.S. Mint Chief Engraver Charles Barber. The obverse design shows a young Filipino male seated next to an anvil holding a hammer in his right hand, his left arm raised, and in the background to his left is a billowing volcano. The obverse carries the inscriptions "Half Centavo" and "Filipinas" (Spanish for Philippines). The reverse design depicts an eagle with spread wings perched atop an American shield. The reverse carries the inscription "United States of America" and the date.

The Half Centavo was struck in Bronze (95% copper, 5% zinc and tin). It had a weigh of 40 Grains and a diameter of 17.5 mm.

Business strikes of the Half Centavo were struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1903 (12,084,000) and 1904 (5,654,000).

A limited number of Proof Half Centavos were produced at the Philadelphia mint from 1903 through 1906 and again in 1908. The mintage figures for proof Half Centavos is as follows: 1903 (2,558), 1904 (1,355), 1905 (471), 1906 (500), and 1908 (500). The 1905, 1906, and 1908 Half Centavos were PROOF ONLY ISSUES.

The Half Centavo proved to be an unnecessary denomination that was poorly accepted by the public. Production of business strikes of this denomination was discontinued in March 1904 and in April 1904 the unpopular Half Centavo denomination was withdrawn from circulation. In June 1908 the idle stockpile of 7,585,400 Half Centavo pieces was shipped to the San Francisco mint where they were melted and re-coined into One Centavo pieces. That leaves a little less than 60% of the original total mintage still available to collectors today.

If you are thinking about starting a USA-Philippines Type Set this is the perfect coin to start with. A comparatively large number of 1903 business strikes were saved by collectors and well struck MS64 RD and MS65 RD specimens are quite reasonably priced. The 1904 business strikes and all of the proof issues are much scarcer particularly in Red. Gem quality Full Red proofs can be very difficult to find and all are quite rare.

The attached picture shows my 1903 USA-Philippines Half Centavo PR66 RD (Ex: Dr. Greg Pineda Philippine Collection). This gorgeous specimen is a blazing Full Red.

To see my most spectacular Half Centavo visit my "Rainbow Toned" 1903 PR65 RB (Ex: Dr. Greg Pineda Philippine Collection) at: http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/WCM/CoinView.aspx?sc=181506

To see additional Half Centavos visit my Half Centavo Registry Set at: http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/SetListing.aspx?PeopleSetID=77008&Ranking=all

The highlights of this Registry Set are my 1903 PR66 RD (Ex: Dr. Greg Pineda Philippine Collection), 1904 PR66 RB (Ex: Just Having Fun Collection), 1905 PR64 RD (Ex: Louis E. Eliasberg Senior Collection), and 1908 PF65 RD.

To see the other coins that comprise an NGC USA-Philippines Type Set visit my award winning (2011 Best Presented Set Award) USA-Philippines Type Set at: http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/SetListing.aspx?PeopleSetID=51257&;amp;Ranking=all

An expanded version of the USA-Philippines Type Set is found in my Custom USA-Philippines Type Set at: http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/WCM/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=9238

Next week's installment will feature the One Centavo of 1903 -- 1936.

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