Cuba Pre 1962

I don't see many post or photos of coinage from Cuba prior to the Revolution. It is perfectly legal to buy, sell, and own these coins. Someone might tell that to eBay and I suspect many have tried. The law is very strict on importing coinage minted after 1962 directly from Cuba. There are avenues internationally but I am not a legal expert so I'll stay away from that subject. I would like to present some of my collection of pre 1962 coinage and hope to see some example from others. I have put together a sort of type set which is far from complete and is still a work in progress.


1920 1 Centavo KM# 9.1
Mintage 19,378,000
17 mm Copper-Nickel


1915 2 Centavos KM# A10
Mintage 6,090,000
19 m Copper-Nickel



1915 5 Centavos KM# 11.0
Mintage 5,096,000
21 mm Copper-Nickel


1948 10 Centavos KM# A12
Mintage 5,120,000
17.8 mm 0.9000 Silver 0.0723 ASW



1916 20 Centavos KM# 13.2
Mintage 2,535,000
23 mm .09000 Silver 0.1447 ASW

 

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1953 25 Centavos KM# 27
Mintage 19,000,000
24 mm .09000 Silver 0.1808 ASW
Centennial-Birth of Jose Marti


1952 40 Centavos KM# 25
Mintage 1,250,000
28 mm 0.9000 Silver 0.2893 ASW
50th Year of Republic


1953 50 Centavos KM# 28
Mintage 2,000,000
31 mm 0.9000 Silver 0.3617 ASW
Centennial-Birth of Jose Marti


1939 1 Peso KM#22
Mintage 9,200,000
38 mm 0.9000 Silver 0.7734 ASW
ABC Peso ANACS AU58

Presented as a type set to illustrate the difference in size

 

Congrats, thats a great collection, sonlarson. I don't own a single cuban coin but wouldn't mind a few over my lifetime.

I find KM# 25 the nicest design wise, followed by KM#22.

 

1915 40 centavos

 

I have a bunch of Cuban coins. why ? because I also collect "coins with stars". pics later if I can find them.

 

Nice collection.

I recently found a 1916 ten centavos at the local flea market for about fifty cents two months ago.

I didn't know it's key date status until I got home, but knew it was silver and cost half melt value.

 

Ebay has it's own embargo or prohibition on all Cuban coins, no matter what date.


Cuba 40 Centavos 1962 with holes

 

I can't help myself from buying Cuban coins whenever I see them in the junk bins, even though I already have a copy of the ones I find and I can no longer resell them. I still find a lot of the 1920 five centavos and the 1915 1 and 5 centavos, plus the 1943 1 centavo is common as well. Back before the eBay ban they were easy to resell, but now of course you can't openly list them. I've still sold them but I've also had my listings removed.

 

Like you, I have sucessfully sold some duplicates on eBay. Takes some creativity but buyers find them and they do sell. I recently met a dealer at a show and he expressed intrest in buying quality coins from Cuba. I plan to show him a few later this month an get a feel for the market. I know a dealer in Florida who has a good selection.

 

just list them as centavo or peso on Ebay.

 

Right, but once in awhile eBay will find them and remove them and send you a message. Theoretically they could suspend your account so whenever that happens I usually hold off for awhile.

 

I suspect the later Cuban coinage will prove to be scarce to rare in Uncirculated condition because of the embargo and the antics of eBay. Even in poor condition how many aluminum 10 centavo coins from the 1960's can survive half a century of heavy circulation?

Once relations normalize we still won't see whether these coins are out there unless people collect them. All that can be stated with some confidence is that they can't be found in this country or anywhere else easily at this time. This is the same situation that exists for all moderns but is more pervasive with Cuban coinage since it's not available in this country.

 

there were many Cuban coins at my last coin show in Vegas at "The Orleans".

 

The last Circulating 10 Centavos from Cuba was 1952 and minted in Silver. No Aluminum 10 Centavos for regular Cuban circulation


The 10 Centavos was minted for the Convertible Series in Nickel Bonded Steel

and for the Visitor's Series in Aluminum. 5 Centavos, I don't have a 10.

Both were designed to keep regular Cuban coinage in Cuba.

Post 1962 coinage is available internationally.
It is illegal to purchase directly from Cuba.
Pre 1962 coinage is easily available both in the US and internationally.

The above coins were purchased cheaply from overseas.

 

I have a 1946 1 centavo, and this 1915 peso. Really like the Cuban coins with the star pattern. Please excuse the bad pic; took this a long time ago when I was trying to get the hang of coin photography.

 

If experience is any guide none of these were BU circulation issues from 1962 to 1980.

You're right. I misspoke. I was thinking of coins like the 1969 20 Centavos in aluminum.

 

Carribbean Peso is another popular moniker.

 

Here is my favorite Cuban coin, a 1932 20 Centavos. Mintage of only 184,000.

 

Extremely low mintage for the 1902-1960 era. Most of the coinage was minted in the Millions. Nice coin to own!

 

And please don't forget 'bout this coin.
V centavos 1943, brass, weight - 4,6 g., size - 21 mm, mintage - 6000000 pcs. Engraver: Charles Edward Barber. Single release only.