(Eagle News)–The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Tuesday, Dec. 17, launched a new P20 coin that will soon replace the old P20 bill.
The coin still features former President Manuel Quezon on one side, while the other side has the image of the Malacañang Palace and the BSP logo.
It also features an image of the plant, “Nilad” where the Philippine capital’s name came from. Nilad or the local name of the Yamstick Mangrove is a peculiar, stalky rice-like plant with flowers of bright white and yellow that was said to be abundant in the old Manila.
The coin will reportedly be released in time for the holidays.
It has a diameter of 30 millimeters, and weighs 11.50 grams.
The P20 coin has a nickel core and a bronze outer ring.
BSP Senior Assistant Governor Dahlia Luna said that the P20 coin would last more than the P20 bill which is the most used denomination for payments across the country, according to one study.
-New P5 coin –
Meanwhile, the BSP also released the new P5 coin which is nonagon in shape.
The nine-sided coin P5 coin still has the image of Philippine hero Andres Bonifacio on its side, and the image of the Tayabak plant — commonly known as jade or emerald vine which is a native of tropical forests in the Philippines — on its other side.
It has a diameter of 25 millimeters, and weighs 7.40 grams. It is made of nickel plated steel.
The BSP said they would start releasing the new coins before Dec. 25.
(Madelyn Villar Moratillo, Eagle News Service)
