Mukha ng pera: These Php100 bills were missing the face of Manuel Roxas but did not lose its value

It’s Christmas time – that means every kid is eager to get crisp bills as aguinaldo from their ninong or ninang. The most prepared godparents get their stacks of newly minted cash from the bank through over-the-counter transactions. On the other hand, those who love to cram for their pamasko usually get their money via last minute withdrawals. For this lady who wanted to save face with her godchildren, she learned that getting something newly minted isn’t always a good thing – especially when she got Php100 bills literally without a face!

Netizen Earla Anne Yehey took to social media and shared her amusing experience when she withdrew a couple of 100 and 1,000 bills from her account to hand out as pamasko – in time for Christmas. She was surprised to discover that five of her Php100 bills didn’t have the face of the late President Manuel Roxas.

In her post, she also tagged the central bank and the financial institution where she withdrew the bills. Aside from her problematic question on the matter of pamasko, Earla even shared photos of the ‘perang walang mukha’.

Upon closer inspection, some parts of the paper money weren’t printed, such as the currency amount at the upper left side, and the word ‘Republika’ at the top part.

Earla’s post immediately became viral, racking up more than 25,000 reactions and 6,300 comments. Moreover, it has been shared almost 21,000 times since it was posted on December 25.

Of course, Facebook users found the situation equally amusing and distressing, with others questioning how the misprinted bills found their way inside the ATM. One even wanted to buy these ‘limited edition’ bills for triple their worth.

Here are some of the netizens’ mixed reactions:

Admittedly, these bills are not rare but quite popular. Once spotted, such paper money could even fetch more than its face value. A quick Google search will reveal how some auction off or bid on these misprints, as others assess the possible value of such paper money error.

Lucky for Earla, her “perang walang mukha” could turn someone into “mukhang pera” knowing the possible value of these bills in the collectors’ market.

What could you say about this story? Did you also find it funny? Have you ever had a similar encounter? Share your experience and thoughts in the comments section below!