The Last Spanish Coin of the Philippines: Collecting the 1897 Alfonso XIII UN Peso

Last month, I watched a Spanish film on Netflix. One of the lead actresses is a Spanish-Filipino, and naturally, I got curious about her filmography. While browsing her past roles, one movie caught my attention—a 2016 Spanish film titled "1898: Our Last Men in the Philippines."

Now, 1898 is a historically significant and painful year for Spain. It marked the end of the Philippine Revolution and overlapped with the Spanish-American War. Spain would ultimately lose its colonies in the Pacific and the Caribbean, including the Philippines.

But let’s move from film to coins—because, as a collector, a different question came to mind:What is the last coin Spain ever minted for the Philippines?

The Last Spanish Philippine Coin: Alfonso XIII 1897 Un Peso

The final Spanish-era coin minted for the Philippines is the 1897 Un Peso featuring King Alfonso XIII. It’s a 37mm silver coin with a high silver content of 90%, making it both historically significant and desirable among collectors.

The obverse features a young King Alfonso XIII—the son of the late King Alfonso XII—who became king literally from birth in 1886 after his father died in 1885. Because of his youthful portrait, many Filipino collectors affectionately nicknamed him "Batang Alaska" or "Alaska Boy", comparing his bust to the familiar logo of Alaska Milk.

In numismatic literature, this coin is commonly referred to as the “Alfonsino.”

I personally like the 1897 Un Peso a lot. It’s one of those Spanish-Philippine coins I’m eager to collect more of. What makes it so special?

• It's the first and only silver peso issued by Spain for the Philippines.

• It contains the name “Filipinas” in Spanish, just like the earlier Isabelinas.

• Its large size and high silver content make it more appealing than the smaller Alfonso silver coins.

  
  

In fact, its collector value can rival even the more common USPI (United States–Philippine) One Peso coins. Depending on the condition, the 1897 Un Peso can sell anywhere from ₱5,000 to ₱10,000 in today’s market.

Interested in Spanish colonial coins? Check out:

• One Peso Gold and Silver Coins of the Philippines – Colonial Period

Beware of Replicas: A Personal Lesson

Let me share a quick warning based on personal experience.

I once bought two 1897 Un Peso coins on eBay from sellers based in Poland and Ukraine. The price was low—too low—so I already had my doubts. Still, the coins looked great and appeared to be in AU to UNC condition, so I took the risk.

Later on, while browsing eBay again, I stumbled upon another listing. This time, the seller wasn’t selling coins—he was selling information about these very replicas. In his product description, he specifically warned buyers to avoid 1897 Un Peso coins from Polish and Ukrainian sellers, as they are known sources of counterfeit coins.

So yes—replicas exist. And they’re surprisingly well-made.

The 1897 Un Peso is also being sold on Alibaba, clearly labeled as a replica. That’s at least a bit more honest. But the fact remains: this is the only Spanish Philippine coin I’ve personally encountered that has known fakes in the wild.

So please, be cautious when buying online—especially if the deal seems too good to be true.

1897 UN Peso Coin from PL/UA

Final Thoughts

I still love the 1897 Un Peso. It's a coin that bridges the twilight of Spanish colonialism and the dawn of a new era. It’s beautifully struck, steeped in history, and, with its distinctive "Batang Alaska" design, it’s one of the most recognizable Spanish-Philippine coins.

Further reading:

• Exploring Alfonso XII 50 Centavos (1880–1885): Rarity, Values, and Hidden Varieties

• One Peso Gold and Silver Coins of the Philippines - Colonial Period

• Spanish-Philippine Decimal Coinage (1861-1897)

Editors Note: This post was originally published September 5, 2024 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.