The history of Philippine coinage reflects its rich and varied past. During the Spanish era, coins were irregularly shaped and included notable pieces like the macuquinas and Dos Mundos pillar dollar. In the American colonial period, coins featured a mix of Filipino imagery and American symbols. The Commonwealth era introduced coins with the Commonwealth coat of arms.
During the Japanese occupation in World War II, special Japanese invasion money was issued. Post-World War II, the Central Bank of the Philippines started issuing new coin designs. Today, the "New Generation Currency" (NGC) Coin Series includes coins in denominations of 1, 5, 10, and 25 sentimo, and 1, 5, 10 and 20 piso.
These coins are made of nickel-plated steel, with the 20-piso coin featuring a bronze-plated steel ring and a nickel-plated steel center. The new series highlights native Philippine flora, while sentimo denominated coins depict a stylized representation of the Philippine flag on the obverse. The current NGC Coin Series reflects modern designs focusing on national symbols and heroes.
