Philippines's New 3000 Piso Commemorative Banknote
The Supreme Court (SC) 125th Anniversary commemorative banknote and coin. The vertical orientation of the banknote’s reverse side is the first in the history of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. (Image courtesy of the SC Office of the Spokesperson)
Minted in Nordic gold and bearing a face value of PHP 125, the commemorative coin features Lady Justice on its obverse (front), together with the logos of the SC and BSP, encircled by 15 stars symbolizing the Justices of the Court. The reverse displays the official logo of the SC’s 125th Anniversary. Atty. Ting noted that while modest in size, the coin embodies the enduring weight of justice, the public’s trust in the Judiciary, and the strength of the institution.
The commemorative PHP 3,000 banknote, the first issued by the BSP adopting a vertical design, bears the portrait of the first Chief Justice of the Philippines, Cayetano Arellano. The obverse features the SC Session Hall, the current venue for En Banc oral arguments, and formerly the Main Library of the University of the Philippines before it transferred to Diliman, Quezon City. The reverse side shows Lady Justice, the SC New Building, and the names of the Chief Justices who have led the Court starting in 1901, from Chief Justice Arellano to Chief Justice Gesmundo.
The commemorative coin and banknote are products of a close collaboration between the BSP and the SC. The banknote was designed by BSP artist Mr. Kenneth Arroyo, while the coin’s obverse was designed by BSP artist Ms. Abigail Cutaran and its reverse by Mr. Rancho Arcilla of the SC Office of the Spokesperson.
Although legal tender or legally valid for payment, both commemorative issues will soon be available for purchase at the BSP and the newly opened SC Gift Shop.
Atty. Ting also presented the commemorative stamps designed by Mr. Arcilla, issued in four unique designs that reflect the SC’s history and enduring legacy.
The first stamp features Chief Justice Arellano alongside the SC’s 125th Anniversary logo. The second highlights the façade of the SC New Building, designed by Filipino architect Antonio Toledo and home to the En Banc Session Hall, the chambers of the Chief Justice and Associate Justices, and other key offices of the SC. The third stamp depicts the historic SC Old Building along Taft Avenue, which served as the Court’s principal seat from the 1950s until 1991 and now houses the Office of the Court Administrator and the Judiciary Memorabilia Hall. The final stamp features the SC Baguio Building, where the Court continues its long-standing tradition of holding summer sessions.
The stamps will be available for sale at the PHLPost Central Office in Manila and at the SC Gift Shop.
Atty. Ting emphasized that the commemorative currency and stamps serve as enduring reminders of the SC’s place in the nation’s history:
Source: Supreme Court of Philippines
