Manila Travel Forum

Hi everyone
I will be in Manila next week and was wondering if anybody knows of any places that sell old coins,banknotes,stamps etc.I will be staying in Malate, so any thing close by would be great.
Thanks in advance

For stamps, you may visit the Philatelic Museum located within the compound of the Central Post Office at Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila.

For coins/bank notes, I'm not sure but you can inquire at the Museum of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP/Central Bank). BSP is along Roxas Blvd., across the CCP Complex.

Both areas are near Malate.

Hi Dale! yes, Asianbelle is right - the Central Post Office (close to Malate) would be a good place to start. I was a member of that Philatelic Society yeras ago when I was only ten years old and I joined some of their auctions and I remembered I sold some of my banana-sahped stamps from Togo by auction. Since I was the yongest member, I was able to get stamps at low prices because nobody wanted to bid against me...hehehe...The society used to be on the upper level but they might have moved and they are also closely linked to the Numismatics Club so they will have info on that.

There is also an Inernational Philatelic Club -- see http://www.theipps.info/

There was a recent controversy with the Philippine Numismatics Club: http://www.coinlink.com/News/clubs-associations/the-philippine-numismatic-and-antiquarian-society-a-lost-legacy/

Philippine Numismatic & Antiquarian Society
Numismatic Auctions twice a year, specializing on Spanish-Philippine Coinage, US-Philippine Coinage, Culion Leper Colony Coinage, and other Philippine Collectibles.

Hope this helps, Norman :)

Hi Norman. Philatelic Museum is now housed in the building next to the central post office. It's an old building that can pass as a museum piece in itself :))) I have some photos in my Manila page taken when VT Pilipinas did a postal history tour in 2007.

I collect stamps but not coins. You can of course buy stamps at the main post office but these are the mint and current ones. If you're after old or used ones, there's one dealer with a store that you could go to, it's along Recto Ave. The dealer's name is Josie Cura and her tel. no. is 7355001. She's a nice lady and I'm sure she can help you.

There's another store that sells both coins/banknotes and stamps but it's in another part of town. The store is Octagon Coins Antique Trading and it's in the Tiendesitas in Pasig (see link below). You might want to give them a try.

Another is World Treasures at the SM Megamall, also in Pasig. They're on the 4th level of Building B. Their tel. no. is 6338105.

Hope this helps.

http://www.tiendesitas.com.ph/store.asp?sid=285

Thanks Aida (Asianbelle)! Wow, I'm glad they have their own building now (the Philatelic Club) - I was so active before as a ten year old (little jumping 70 pound Norman, hehehe), being there every weekend for the stamp/coin auctions, hehehe....but it made me know all the countries I visited later in life.

And Bob (stamporama), I would love to see your collection when I visit you next year! We are planning to go there June 2010...I hope you post on VT pictures of the stamps and coins you buy from our wonderful Motherland....Greetings from Arizona, Norman :)

Hey you may drop me an email when in Manila. I may get along...have been collecting coins and stamps when I was kid. Now only currency notes of the countries I visit.

Wow, look at that - we can form a Virtual Tourist Stamp and Coins Club!!! I have lost my collection though....but I can start again! We'll make "littleman" PRESIDENT because he started this thread, hehehe....

Only commemorative coins and notes are sold at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Other than that, notes issued years back most of which were not circulated.

Better check Bangko Sentral first because those you'll buy outside might have some profit margin already for the same item.

You will be able to inquire and buy from Cash department at the lobby (ground floor) of the Multi-storey building of the Bangko Sentral. You will be asked to leave a valid ID and to fill up a small form to justify your entry to Bangko Sentral. You could browse through the website www.bsp.gov.ph to view the list of commemorative coins and notes for sale. Then, I would suggest you call first to clarify which ones they still have on stock..The officers usually buy a lot as a token gift for foreign officials/diplomats so stock inventory may vary.

Best,

Nalie

Hey Norman, I am still holding my coins and stamps from my childhood days. Now I only collect airplane models in scale 1:400.

Thank you everyone for your help,it has been great.I would not call myself a collector.....i was emptying out my storage locker of the last 25 years and found my collections when i was a child.This has rekindled a little bit of interest.I was thinking, if i still have some money remaining at the end of my trip, i would like to buy a good gift for myself ;-)
p.s
Norman, i am not sure about being club president.....but Treasurer!yes!...i need to find some way to pay for my next trip to the beautiful islands of the Philippines..hahaha

Okay, we'll start raising the funds now and will deposit it directly to your bank account - hehehe...Thank you so much for visiting the Philippines! The jumpingfamily will be there next year...

my 14 years old kid used to collect old coins, he always buy it in greenhills shopping center 2nd floor where you can buy antique furniture

Hi ate, kamusta? You get real old coins or fakes?

Makes me wonder if i bought something expensive would i get a certificate of authenticity and could that be fake?

i am also a banknote collector...

you can get some good unc notes at the greenhill shopping center. theres an antique shop there. pretty nice UNC collection there the last time i visited.

there's also one in sm Megamall at the fourth floor. forgot the name of the shop but its right in front of the largest art gallery there.

Beware of street vendors, mainly in Quiapo under and along the LRT (metro) line-1 (pedestrian shopping arcade). There is a big industry of fake coins, especially "silver dolars" and similar silver coins (like Cuban, Japanese etc), as well as old Chinese coins (with the square hole). So, why not even fake certificates ???

WOW, tons of info pouring in. So in nutshell, where is the place where one can buy authentic but cheap old coins and currency notes? I would like to add something to my old collection.

Moosafer I think it is a real one

I would never buy them from a street vendor.....I was in Robinsons Ermita today and there is a small store called Kawasaka????? or something similiar???? which appears to have some WW2 type antiques,some silver coins and banknotes etc...i think all you can hope for at times is a gamble....so i will see.....