Obverse
Portrait of Pope John Paul II "Pagdalaw ng Papa sa Pilipinas" "" "Papa Juan Pablo II"
Reverse
Saint Lorenzo Ruiz is honored on the Reverse, image of a ship (representing, he traveled from Philippines to Japan), image of him being tortured and hung upside-down, image of him praying while standing, in the upper right are the image of Baby Jesus and Mama Mary with 12 rays representing the 12 disciple "Republika ng Pilipinas" 50 Piso"
Literature
The 1981 Fifty-Piso Proof Coin of the Philippines
Minted by the Franklin Mint
This sterling silver Fifty-Piso Coin issued by the Philippines bears a special design, used only in , to commemorate Pope John Paul II’s historic visit to the islands in February of that year.
Except for a brief stopover in Karachi, Pakistan, John Paul's first trip to the Far East began when he arrived in Manila on . His six-day visit to the Philippines, the only predominantly Christian nation in Asia, was part of a 20,500-mile (32,000-kilometer) pilgrimage which included Guam and Japan. The official purpose of the pontiff's visit to the Philippines was to preside at the beatification of 16 Christian martyrs who were put to death for practicing their religious faith in Japan in the 1630s. One of these persons, Lorenzo Ruiz, who is depicted standing in prayer in the coin's reverse design, will almost certainly become the first Filipino saint.
This Fifty-Piso Coin is legal tender in the Philippines. Minted with a full Proof finish, the coin was issued in limited edition by The Franklin Mint under the authority of the Central Bank of the Philippines.
The Franklin Mint
Printed in U.S.A.
Certificate of Authenticity
Republic of the Philippines
Fifty-Piso Coin
This is to certify that the Fifty-Piso Coin of the Philippines accompanied by this certificate was minted with a full Proof finish in sterling silver by The Franklin Mint and issued in limited edition by authority of the Central Bank of the Philippines. It is further certified that this coin bears a commemorative design issued only during .
For the Republic of the Philippines
(Sgd.) Gabriel C. Singson
Certified
Note
The sterling silver 50-Piso coin commemorates Pope John Paul II's visit to the Philippines-his first such pilgrimage to an Asian nation.
Remarks
On Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced the demonetization of this coin, it is legal tender until . It can be exchanged at par with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) from to and considered demonetized starting