Minted MLA event features rare exhibits, expert-led seminars, and exclusive auction of historic collectibles
Stepping into the Minted MNL Summer Show 2025 felt like entering a time capsule, where every coin, banknote, and medal carried a story waiting to be uncovered. Held on March 8 and 9 at The Westin Manila Hotel, the event gathered collectors, enthusiasts, and industry experts eager to celebrate the rich history of numismatics.
During the two-day event, we met Sigrid Clarin Carandang, the founder of Minted MNL, who has played a key role in shaping the local collecting scene.
Carandang’s fascination with coins began at just three years old, drawn to the glimmer of loose change.
“I like anything that shines and shimmers,” she said during a casual interview with Manila Standard Life.
What started as childhood curiosity evolved into a passion for history and preservation. By 2016, she had established Minted MNL, which has since become a cornerstone of the Philippine collecting community. Her dedication to authenticity led to her accreditation as an official dealer for top grading institutions like Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC), Numismatic Conservation Center (NCC), and Paper Money Guaranty (PMG) in 2017.
NGC certifies the authenticity and condition of coins, PMG specializes in banknotes, while NCC focuses on coin preservation.
This year’s show was the biggest yet, drawing an estimated 3,000 attendees—double the turnout from the previous year. Among them were about 100 young collectors, a sign of the growing interest in numismatics in the Philippines. “
It’s an exciting year for us because we’re growing, and as you can see, there are foreigners coming to the exhibit. What more in the years to come as we expect this to grow year on year,” Carandang said.
International numismatic firms have also taken notice. Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio, a major auction house, recognized the Philippines as an emerging market.
“We’re here in the Philippines because there’s a lot of opportunity. America and Europe have been collecting coins for 300 years. China, around 25 years. The Philippines is less than 20 years. If you go to America and Europe, it’s going to be hard to find rare finds because most are already in the hands of longtime collectors,” a spokesperson from Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio told Manila Standard Life during the event’s opening. “The Philippines is a young market with a lot of potential.”
Apart from being a marketplace, Minted MNL Summer Show was an immersive experience featuring rare exhibits, expert-led seminars, and a bustling bourse where collectors exchanged prized pieces. Among the highlights was the historic 1766 Barilla—one of Manila’s earliest copper coins—alongside artifacts from the Philippine Revolution and rare gold and silver coins from the 17th to 19th centuries. The event’s partnership with PCGS and CCG ensured expert authentication, reinforcing the integrity of the market.
“Beyond the displays and the auctions, our impact lies in its commitment to education and community-building,” Carandang shared. “We offer specialized seminars catering to both newcomers and experienced collectors.”
“We wanted to foster a deeper understanding of the cultural and financial value of coin collection because it’s not just about collecting or selling coins; we’re preserving legacies,” she said.