The Philippine fifty-peso note (₱50) is a denomination of Philippine currency. Philippine president and former House Speaker Sergio Osmeña is currently featured on the front side of the bill, while the Taal Lake and the giant trevally (known locally as maliputo) are featured on the reverse side.
1916-1920: PNB issued notes. This note is never officially issued by the Philippine National Bank. 10,000 pieces were captured and issued during World War II by the Japanese. The others were looted by Moros in the Province of Mindanao who sold them at tenth of their face value.
1937: Philippine Commonwealth issued treasury certificate. Features the portrait of Henry Ware Lawton. This series were later overprinted with the word "VICTORY" after the liberation of the Philippines under Japanese rule in 1944.
Osmeña first appeared on the fifty peso bill upon the release of the Pilipino series notes in 1969.
1951: English series, Features the portrait of Antonio Luna, a general in the Philippine–American War. The reverse features a painting of his brother, Juan Luna, Blood Compact between Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna, the chieftain of Bohol.
1969: Pilipino series, Sergio Osmeña replaced the portrait of Luna. The note is now predominantly red in color. On the reverse, it now features the Old Legislative Building. The design of the obverse was later revised, switching the positions of the "50" on the lower right corner with the Central Bank logo on the upper right, the signature of the Central Bank Governor was placed beside the signature of the President of the Philippines, the font for Republika ng Pilipinas was also changed and the text Limampung Piso was made into one line. This design was later used when the Bagong Lipunan series was released in 1973.
1973: Ang Bagong Lipunan series, The "Ang Bagong Lipunan" text was added and was overprinted on the watermark area.
1987: New design series, The bill was completely redesigned and new elements regarding Osmeña's achievement as the first Speaker of the Philippine Assembly, a precursor of the current House of Representatives were shown on the right side, namely, the mace and the gavel, the symbols used by Congress. The reverse side featured the Old Legislative Building, the home to various legislative bodies of the Philippine government.
1993: After the creation of the "Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas", its new logo was incorporated on all the New Design series bills.
1998: The year of printing was added at the bottom of the denomination value located at the upper left corner of the obverse.
1999: The names of the signatories on the bills were added starting with banknotes featuring the signature of President Joseph Estrada.
2001: Starting with banknotes that features the signature of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the name of the Old Legislative Building on the reverse side was changed to "National Museum" (Gusali ng Pambansang Museo), to reflect the turnover made by Congress to the National Museum. Also, the serial number was moved at the top of the denomination that was located on the lower left side of the banknote.
2010: New generation series, The portrait of Sergio Osmeña was revised, a picture of the first Philippine Assembly and Osmeña and General Douglas MacArthur's landing in Leyte was added on the lower left corner and bottom center of the bill respectively. The reverse now features the Taal Lake and the giant trevally.
Throughout its existence, the fifty peso bill have been overprinted to commemorate certain events, namely:
100th Birth Anniversary of Sergio Osmeña commemorative bill - In 1978, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas introduced 50-peso banknotes with an overprint for the birth centenary of former President Sergio Osmeña. The words, "IKA-100 TAONG KAARAWAN 1878-1978" ("100th Birth Anniversary 1878-1978") are placed near the portrait.
50 years of Central Banking commemorative bill - In 1999, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas introduced the 50-peso banknotes with an overprint commemorating 50 years of central banking. The overprint shows the Old BSP Building in Intramuros and the New BSP Complex in Malate, Manila. It appears on the watermark area in red. The version without a year mark and with the signature of President Fidel Ramos was released in 1997.
60 years of Central Banking commemorative bill - On July 9, 2009, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas introduced 12 million banknotes (2 million banknotes for each denomination) with an overprint commemorating 60 years of central banking. The overprint appears on the watermark area on all six circulating denominations.
45th ASEAN celebration commemorative note - A total of 10 million pieces bearing the ASEAN logo were released into general circulation to commemorate the 45th ASEAN Day celebration held on August 10. Souvenir copies containing an uncut sheet of four notes were presented to the nine members of ASEAN during the celebrations.
San Pedro Calungsod canonization commemorative note - On February 4, 2013, the BSP announced the release of a special limited edition note featuring the new Filipino saint, Saint Pedro Calungsod, this note was scheduled to be released on April 2, 2013, the month that the Philippines will celebrate the first feast of Calungsod as a saint. The overprint features a portrait of Pedro Calungsod, the dates 1672-2012, the words "St. Pedro Calungsod Canonization" and the quote "LIFE THAT IS OFFERED FAITH THAT IS PROCLAIMED".
Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation 50th Anniversary commemorative note - Issued on June 20, 2013 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the state deposit insurer Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC). The blue overprint consists of their logo and its customer philosophy "Committed to serve".
Trinity University of Asia 50th Anniversary commemorative note - Issued to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Trinity University of Asia. The commemorative note consists of the seal and the words "TUA @ 50: ACHIEVING OUR GOLDEN DREAMS".
