Philippine ten-centavo coin

Ten sentimo
Philippines
Value	0.10 Philippine peso
Mass	2.5 g
Diameter	17.00 mm
Thickness	1.67 mm
Edge	Reeded
Composition	Copper-plated steel
Years of minting	1880–2017
Obverse
Design	Denomination, country name in Tagalog and year. (Note this is an image of a Philippine 10 sentimo coin)
Design date	1995
Reverse
Design	Logo of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Design date	1995

The ten-sentimo coin (10¢) coin is a denomination of the Philippine peso. It was the oldest denomination under 1 peso in the country's circulation, having been introduced in 1880 during the Spanish rule of the islands until it stopped being minted in 2017. The denomination remains legal tender until the demonetization of the BSP Coin Series.

History

Spanish administration

The first coin worth one tenth of a peso was the 10 centimo coin of 1864-1888 issued under Queen Isabel II of Spain, followed by 10 centimos of 1880-1885 issued under King Alfonso XII. The latter obverse was inscribed 'Alfonso XII por La G(racia) de Dios' (Alfonso XII, by the Grace of God) and the year of minting. The reverse featured the coat of arms of Castille and Kingdom of León. Around it was the inscription 'Rey de Espana' (King of Spain) and the denomination as 10 Cs. de Po. (10 centimos of peso).^[1]

United States administration

In 1903, the 10-centavo coin equivalent to US$0.05 was minted for the Philippines, weighing 2.7 grams (0.095 oz) of 0.9 fine silver. Its specifications were reduced from 1907 to 2.0 grams (0.071 oz) of 0.75 fine silver; this was minted until 1945.

Independence

English Series

In 1958, minting of the centavo resumed with another coat of arms on the reverse. The inscription around the coat of arms was changed to 'Central Bank of the Philippines'.

Pilipino Series

In 1969, the coin featured the Tagalog language for the first time. Its obverse featured Francisco Baltazar, also known as Francisco Balagtas and a prominent Filipino poet widely considered as one of the greatest Filipino literary laureates for his impact on Filipino literature, in profile to the left. The inscription around the shield on its reverse read 'Republika ng Pilipinas'.

Ang Bagong Lipunan Series

A second coin featuring Baltazar was minted from 1975 to 1983. The name of the Republic was moved to the obverse, and Baltazar now faced the right. On the reverse read the inscription 'Ang Bagong Lipunan'. The issues from 1979 to 1982 featured a mintmark underneath the 10 centavo.