Japanese government–issued Philippine peso

During World War II in the Philippines, the occupying Japanese government issued a fiat currency in several denominations; this is known as the Japanese government-issued Philippine peso (see also Japanese invasion money).[1] The Japanese government outlawed possession of guerrilla currency, and declared a monopoly on the issuance of money, so that anyone found to possess guerrilla notes could be arrested or even executed.[2]

"Mickey Mouse money" redirects here. For the scrip used in many Disney-owned locations, see Disney dollar.

Japanese government–issued Philippine peso
Peso (in English and Spanish), Piso (in Filipino)
Obverse and reverse of the 500-peso note, 1944–1945
ISO 4217
Codenone
Unit
Pluralpesos
Symbol₱‎
Denominations
Subunit
 1⁄100Cent
Centavo or Céntimo (Spanish)
Sentimo (Filipino)
Banknotes₱1, ₱5, ₱10, ₱100, ₱500, ₱1000
Issuance
Central bankJapanese government
This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete.

Some Filipinos called the fiat peso by the derogatory term "Mickey Mouse money".[3] Many survivors of the war tell stories of going to the market laden with suitcases or "bayóng" (native bags made of woven coconut or buri leaf strips) overflowing with the Japanese-issued bills. According to one witness, 75 "Mickey Mouse" pesos, or about 35 U.S. dollars at that time, could buy one duck egg.[4] In 1944, a box of matches cost more than 100 Mickey Mouse pesos.[5]

These bills were often used by American psychological warfare personnel as propaganda leaflets. Japanese occupation banknotes were overprinted with the words "The Co-prosperity Sphere: What is it worth?", in an attempt to discredit the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, and dropped from Allied aircraft over the occupied territories.[6] Towards the end of the war, the currency underwent hyperinflation, causing a rapid increase of the denomination value of notes put into circulation.[3]

One-peso banknote with the "Co-prosperity Sphere" overprint, which was then dropped in areas occupied by the Imperial Japanese Forces as a form of psychological warfare.

Counterfeit notes

The U.S. counterfeited notes throughout the war partly in an attempt to destabilize the local economy, thereby demoralizing the Japanese, and to supply guerillas fighting the Japanese. General MacArthur asked the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) to replicate the Japanese currency in the Philippines for his eventual return. By luck, a supply of paper made from plants native to Japan was located in the U.S.[7] When that supply was exhausted the counterfeiting operation was transferred to Australia. In 1943 MacArthur requested and received the following counterfeited notes: five million 10-peso notes, three million 5-peso notes, one and a half million 1-peso notes and five hundred thousand 50-centavo notes.[8] The American forgeries are known to have the following block letter codes:

  • 50-centavo bills: PA, PB, PE, PF, PG, PH and PI
  • 1-peso bills: PH
  • 5-peso bills: PD
  • 10-peso bills: PA, PB, and PC

Denominations

1942 series
1942 issue of the Japanese government-issued Philippine peso
Image Value Issue date Series
1 centavo 1942 First
5 centavos 1942 First
10 centavos 1942 First
50 centavos 1942 First
1 peso 1942 First
5 pesos 1942 First
10 pesos 1942 First

1943–1945 series

A new series of notes in denominations of 1, 5 and 10 pesos were issued in 1943. Inflation also forced the Japanese to issue notes for 100, 500 and 1000 pesos in 1944.

1943–1945 issue of the Japanese government-issued Philippine peso
Image Value Issue date Series
1 peso 1943 Second
5 pesos 1943 Second
10 pesos 1943 Second
100 pesos 1944 Second
500 pesos 1944 Second
1,000 pesos 1945 Second

See also

References
  1. Potet, Jean-Paul G. (June 25, 2016). Numbers and Units in Old Tagalog. Lulu.com. p. 102. ISBN 978-1-326-61380-8.
  2. United States. Army Service Forces (1944). Civil Affairs Handbook: Philippine Islands. Headquarters, Army Service Forces. pp. 31–33.
  3. "Japanese Peso Note | McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture". McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture | University of Tennessee, Knoxville. October 20, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  4. Barbara A. Noe (August 7, 2005). "A Return to Wartime Philippines". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved November 16, 2006.
  5. Agoncillo, Teodoro A. & Guerrero, Milagros C., History of the Filipino People, 1986, R.P. Garcia Publishing Company, Quezon City, Philippines
  6. Friedman, Herbert A. "WWII Allied Propaganda Banknotes". Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  7. Arlie Slabaugh, Japanese Invasion Money by Hewitt’s Numismatic Information Series (Chicago Press, 1967)
  8. WW II Allied Propaganda Banknotes
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