Philippines. - 5 Pesos - 1921 - "Unauthorized Japanese Issue" - Pick 53x PMG 58 Choice About Uncirculated. PMG Certification Number: 2457149-044 Philippines - 5 Pesos Series of 1921 - Serial #B185844B - PMG 58 EPQ An exceptional and historically significant 5 Pesos circulating note from the Philippine National Bank. This specific specimen is categorized as the rare "Unauthorized Japanese Issue" (Pick 53x), a wartime variety highly sought after by specialists of Asian and WWII numismatics. It is independently certified by PMG as Choice About Uncirculated 58 EPQ, representing an elite level of preservation for this specific issue. Historical Significance: The Captured WWII Treasury While the note bears the date 1921, its true rarity is tied to the Japanese occupation of the Philippines (1942-1945). During the invasion, Japanese military forces captured a substantial hoard of unissued Philippine National Bank currency. These notes, specifically those within the serial range of B164001B to B360000B, were then illegally released into circulation by the Japanese to fund their military activities. Because the Commonwealth government later declared these specific serial ranges "unauthorized" and illegal tender, they were often confiscated or destroyed after liberation. High-grade survivors like this AU 58 EPQ specimen are scarce and serve as a powerful numismatic record of the Pacific War. Item Details Country: Philippines Denomination: 5 Pesos Series Year: 1921 Pick Number: P-53x (Unauthorized Issue) Serial Number: B185844B Signatures: S. Mercado (Cashier) & M. Unson (President) Printer: U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) Grading & Certification Grading Service: Paper Money Guaranty (PMG) PMG Certification Number: 2457149-044 Grade: Choice About Uncirculated 58 EPQ EPQ Designation: Guaranteed Exceptional Paper Quality, confirming the note is entirely original, unpressed, and retains its full natural embossing, ink vibrancy, and paper crispness. Design Features Obverse: Portrait of President William McKinley on the left. Features the prominent blue seal of the Philippine National Bank. Reverse: Ornate red-orange design with "FIVE PESOS" set within complex, high-security lathe-work borders. Security: Multi-colored silk fibers embedded in the paper, a hallmark of BEP-produced colonial currency. ALL ITEMS are sent, well packed, by registered mail or courier with full tracking.