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25 SENTIMOS COIN - PHILIPPINES - JUAN LUNA
(KM 199)

Date: A.D. 1971

Obverse: Portrait head left - DALAWAMPUT LIMANG SENTIMOS (twenty five cents) / JUAN LUNA 25

Reverse: Coat of arms - REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS

This coin was minted in the Philippines, a small group of islands in Southeast Asia. The island was held by Spain for centuries until the Spanish American war transferred the nation to America who introduced democracy and held it as a commonwealth for roughly 50 years until Independence was granted on July 4, 1946 . The official language of the Philippines is English although there are almost 200 other native dialects as well as Spanish and Arabic. Centuries of Spanish rule, decades of American influence, Polynesian and Asian influence all blend to give this emerging nation a very eclectic and sometimes segmented society and culture.

This coin depicts the painter Juan Luna, possibly the Philippines greatest artist. Born in 1857 and schooled in Manila, Madrid, Rome and Paris his work is dynamic and beautifully rendered often using themes from history as well as contemporary life. He was truly a master painter and a passionate person. He was a passionate supporter of Filipino independence but sadly this passion also drove him to take the life of his wife and mother in law over charges of infidelity while living in France. He got off very lightly and returned to the Philippines where he would be arrested and jailed for a few years on charges of sedition. He went on to become a delegate to the Paris Convention and Washington with the purpose of gaining independence for his nation. He died in 1899.