PHILIPPINES. Culion Leper Colony. 20 Centavos 1922 (Copper-Nickel, 32 mm, 10.98 g, 6 h), Manila. CULION LEPER COLONY / ✱PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ✱ mintmark PhM in incuse monogram, 20 / CENTAVOS. Rev. PHILIPPINE HEALTH SERVICE / ✱1922✱ Caduceus. KM 13. Minor marks and small areas of weakness on the reverse, otherwise, good very fine.


The Culion leper colony was established in 1906 by the U.S. government on the Philippine island of Culion to isolate leprosy patients from across the country - at a time when strict segregation was considered the only effective treatment. Over the years, the island evolved into a self-contained community, complete with housing, schools, hospitals, and its own local administration. To prevent the risk of infection through regular currency, Culion introduced its own isolated coinage starting in 1913 - including the 20 centavos piece from 1922, minted in Manila. These unique coins were valid only within the colony and today serve as powerful symbols of a remarkable chapter in medical history and social isolation. Culion would go on to become a major center for leprosy research before being officially declared leprosy-free by the WHO in 2006. In 2018, the history of the colony and its distinctive currency was recognized by UNESCO as part of its Memory of the World Register.