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Coin collecting in manila
Kaelasdad
Posts: 1,232 ✭✭✭
I recently returened from a trip to Manila, and while there I tried to find some coin shops. After asking some friends who live there, then googling, i managed to find one place that might have coins. I fought traffic all the way there to find a half empty deserted shop. I looked across the street and saw an antique shop, and stopped over there as well. They informed me they did not do coins at all.
As I stepped out to the street, an older gentleman walked up to me and asked if i was interested in old currency. I figured, sure, why not. He showed me some WW2 philipino currency--in almost pristine shape--almost too pristine. Im not big into that field, so i passed--he was asking 350 pesos per note. About $9. When i said I reall wanted coins, he pulls out his wallet, digs out a baggie, and in the baggie is an XF 1916 D Mercury dime. He takes it out, and hands it to me. Its slightly heavy, and the coin does not look like silver, and I also notice the mintmark is fairly large. I gave it back and said it was nice, but not real--he was insistant that is was indeed real--but I thought--in Manila, $5000 can keep you in a nice place for about 2 years, or pay for a nice massage every night for 400 nights--so why keep it in a baggie in your wallet?
He wouldnt sell me the dime for $5 though, so i passed on his wares. And that was all the coin shopping i did on my jaunt.
As I stepped out to the street, an older gentleman walked up to me and asked if i was interested in old currency. I figured, sure, why not. He showed me some WW2 philipino currency--in almost pristine shape--almost too pristine. Im not big into that field, so i passed--he was asking 350 pesos per note. About $9. When i said I reall wanted coins, he pulls out his wallet, digs out a baggie, and in the baggie is an XF 1916 D Mercury dime. He takes it out, and hands it to me. Its slightly heavy, and the coin does not look like silver, and I also notice the mintmark is fairly large. I gave it back and said it was nice, but not real--he was insistant that is was indeed real--but I thought--in Manila, $5000 can keep you in a nice place for about 2 years, or pay for a nice massage every night for 400 nights--so why keep it in a baggie in your wallet?
He wouldnt sell me the dime for $5 though, so i passed on his wares. And that was all the coin shopping i did on my jaunt.
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http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=26&threadid=822038
My currency "Box of Ten" Thread: https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1045579/my-likely-slow-to-develop-box-of-ten#latest
4 or 5 small coin shops around town, but the better stuff is in the monthly auctions or by private treaty. Besides the USPI series, you can also pick up Barber coinage that circulated here at the beginning of the 20th century. My best score was a group of circulated 1879-CC Morgans that somehow made their way here. Hope you had a nice trip.
<< <i>Having lived in several other countries, I found it best to stay away from US coins.... saw too many 'questionable' pieces. Cheers, RickO >>
what a bummer that is to see so many questionable or good fakes. it sure does take the fun out of things
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
No 1901-s quarters though.
Or 1904-s halves.