When asked who is the first Filipino hero, the most notable is the Datu of Mactan, Lapulapu, known to be the first leader to resist foreign influence in the archipelago led by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan under the banner of Spain.
Lapulapu's resistance led to a battle known today as the Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521, where Magellan and his men were defeated. Magellan died in the battle, and his remaining men left the archipelago when betrayed by their local allies.
The victory in the Battle of Mactan is celebrated today, especially in Cebu. Every April 27, they celebrate the victory during their Kadaugan Sa Mactan Festival, where they re-enact the Battle of Mactan.
But we can also consider that the battle of Mactan and the defeat of Magellan became a crucial part of the circumnavigation of the world. The remaining men of Magellan, led by Juan Sebastián Elcano, instead of sailing back east where they came, sailed west to the Indian Ocean towards South Africa and traveled north back to Spain, making the first-ever circumnavigation of the globe.
Didn't you know that Spain is celebrating the Magellan-Elcano circumnavigation of the globe?
Didn't you know that the last ship of Magellan Victoria or Nao Victoria that returned to Spain has a replica circumnavigating the world today?
They even made an animated movie, Elcano & Magellan: The First Voyage Around the World.
But compared to other known heroes like Rizal or Bonifacio, whose faces have become common in Philippine coins. Lapulapu appeared only thrice in the coinage of the Philippines.
Lapulapu first appeared as a One Centavo in the Pilipino Series, followed by the ABL and Flora & Fauna Series, all made of pure Aluminum. Except for the Flora & Fauna Series, they added Magnesium.
Lapulapu Philippine Coins
But because of what LapuLapu represents, he became a symbol for security agencies, such as today's Philippine National Police. The PNP depicted Lapulapu in the design of the PNP Seal and badge.
After 26 years, BSP depicted Lapulapu again when, in 2021, BSP released a 5000 Piso Commemorative Banknote and a 99.9% Silver Medal for the 500th anniversary of the Victory at Mactan on April 27, 1521.
Image by BSP via their Media and Research - Press Release
BSP Store sold the Silver Medal for 3500 PHP with box and COA. But BSP did not provide mintage information. Check out the Numista website for specifications of the coin, 500th Anniversary - Battle of Mactan.
And a few days after the release of the Lapulapu Silver Medal, it went for sale on Facebook. The first price I saw was 12000 PHP, price almost quadrupled. It was so in demand that someone bought it for 10000 PHP in an auction on Facebook. Now you can see it for sale for 6500 PHP to 14000 PHP. With the high price, collectors accused some resellers of overprizing the medal. Until today, the BSP Lapulapu Silver Medal is in high demand, and its rarity index on the Numista website is very high, making this historic piece hard to find.
In the same year, aside from BSP, two private Numismatic groups also released their commemorative medal for the Quincentennial anniversary of the Victory at Mactan, Numisworks, and Alamat Commemorative Coins.
Numisworks Lapulapu Medal
For Alamat Commemorative Coins, they made two variants. A 99.9% Silver plated Brass Medal and 99.9% pure Silver Medal.
Alamat Silver plated brass Lapulapu Medal
Numisworks and Alamat sold their non-silver medals for 800 PHP to 900 PHP, and Alamat sold their pure silver medal for 3200 PHP. The medal was also in demand. During the first few days when the medal was released, It was sold in an auction on Facebook for 4500 PHP.
Alamat Pure Silver Lapulapu Medal
To know the specifications of the Alamat Coins checkout the coins entry at Numista website.
Lapulapu Medal - Brass
BSP and Alamat depicted the battle of Mactan in the reverse of their medals, but I like the Alamat design because it's more detailed.
So far, these are the notable coins or medals made to reference Lapulapu that you can add to your collection.. But you can also see other Lapulapu medals posted or sold online, produced primarily for security agencies like the military and police.
So! How is your Lapulapu Philippine coins collection?