2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16
The Republic of Cuba once maintained very friendly relations with the USSR. Therefore, thousands of Soviet citizens had the opportunity to visit this distant country. Many homes still keep light aluminum coins from Liberty Island to this day. We will tell about them in our article.
Cuban money
Cuba is an island nation located in the Caribbean. The country's currency is the Cuban peso (peso cubano). International code: CUP. The island has both paper banknotes and coins. One peso is made up of 100 centavos. In addition, the second currency of Cuba is the so-called convertible peso. It replaces dollars and is intended for foreign diplomats and tourists.
The history of the Cuban currency dates back to 1857. It was then that the island began to print its own internal banknotes, which were called pesos. One peso was equal to eight Spanish reales. The very first Cuban coins were minted in 1915. The author of their design was Charles Barber, who had previously designed the appearance of a half dollar coin for the United States. These coins depicted the poet and publicist José Martí- "Apostle of Independence" of Cuba.
Cuban coins: pesos and centavos
Today there are only seven coins in circulation in Cuba. These are 1 and 3 pesos, as well as 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 centavos.
In July 2004, the Cuban 40 centavo coin was withdrawn from circulation.
The themes of images on banknotes of Cuba are extremely diverse. So, on the coins of this country you can see the faces of presidents, writers, poets, scientists and saints. Many of them depict important historical events, cities, temples, architectural monuments, plants and animals, ships and fishing boats (what would an island nation do without them?).
Commemorative and colored coins
Between 1962 and 2011, about two hundred commemorative coins were minted in Cuba. They were timed to coincide with various anniversaries and all sorts of significant events in Cuban history. Most of these coins are made of copper-nickel alloy and are of high artistic value. As a rule, these are coins with a denomination of one peso.
Among the commemorative Cuban coins, it is worth highlighting one peso of 1980, dedicated to the XXII Olympic Games in Moscow. Its obverse depicts three Olympic sports - boxing, weightlifting and javelin throwing. No less interesting is the 1981 series of coins dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America. They depict three Spanish ships on which Columbus set off on his significant journey - the Pinta, the Santa Maria and the Nina. Noteworthy is the 2010 commemorative coin, on whichthe meeting of E. Hemingway with Fidel Castro is displayed.
Separately, it is worth talking about colored Cuban coins (see photo above). They were produced in the 90s and 2000s. These coins depict various representatives of the flora and fauna of the Cuban region. Among them are turner, orchid, pink flamingo, stingray, woodpecker, pelican and other animals and plants.
The cheapest and most expensive coins of Cuba
Among the cheapest (meaning collectible value) are very light Cuban coins of the 70-80s, made of aluminum. Their obverse features a five-pointed star and the inscription Patria y Libertad ("Motherland and Freedom"). The denomination is indicated in Roman numerals. The reverse is decorated with the state emblem of Cuba. Such coins can be purchased at prices ranging from 50 to 100 rubles.
One of the most expensive Cuban coins, according to the Numismat internet club, is a 10 peso silver coin issued in 1990. It depicts the famous navigator Christopher Columbus. The coin contains 5 ounces of fine silver. Its approximate price is about 10 thousand rubles.
Appreciated among numismatists and a silver coin worth 5 pesos (year of issue - 1988). Its obverse depicts the Zeppelin airship. The site numizmatik.ru offers to purchase this Cuban coin for 6800 rubles.
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