In 1907, elections were held in the US Territory of the Philippine Islands and representatives from 80 districts across the islands were elected to the first-ever Philippines Assembly. The Assembly was the lower house of the Philippines legislature; the Philippines Commission, composed of five Americans and three Filipinos had served as the island's only legislature from the time it was installed in 1901. The Commission transitioned to a role of being the upper chamber of the legislature, serving in conjunction with the all-Filipino Assembly. The local election was a first step toward self-governance and full independence.
Shown here is a medal that commemorates the momentous occsasion. Its obverse feature the Coat-of-Arms of the US-PI Territory, encircled by the inscription "PRIMERA ASAMBLEA LEGISLATIVA - 16 OCTUBRE 1907" which translates into English as "First Legislative Assembly - October 16, 1907." The reverse is a fairly simple design, with "MANILA" presented on a plain banner that is being supported by the branches of what appears to be a young sapling (representing the new Philippines Assembly meeting, in Manila, for the first time?) Manila was/is the capital city of the Philippines.
The Coat-of-Arms (CoA) in use during the period when the Philippines was a Territory of the US featured a US Shield with 13 stripes in its lower segment (the US shield on the medal only has 11 vertical stripes; the medal is iinaccurate). At the center of the shield is an escutcheon which features a modified version of the Coat-of-Arms of Manila which was granted to the city in 1596 by King Philip II of Spain. The castle and mythical sea lion (with sword) are incorporated as symbols of the Philippines' colonial history under Spain. The CoA's shield is surmounted by a bald eagle, representing the then-new US-Philippines connection.
I've collected the series of coins the US struck for the Philippines for two+ decades at this point and have put together a mint state type set with which I am satisfied. Along the way, I've picked up a select few medals that I believe add to the overall story of the Philippines while a US Territory/Commonwealth. This medal for the first meeting of the Philippines Assembly is one such medal.
1907 Philippines Assembly First Meeting Commemorative Medal
US-Philippines Territory Coat-of-Arms
Posted 11/23/2021 12:22 am
