I have a complete set of the minor coins of Cuba in well above average condition overall. The majority are solid Unc., many with luster. Would it be worthwhile to send them off to a TPG, and sell them slabbed rather than just photo and description? I'm not aware of the current value of the coins, as the collection was put together about 40+ years ago. I sold off the Peso values shortly before eBay put their own embargo on listing any Cuban material for sale. They even pulled a First Flight Cover, mailed from Key West, FL on Nov 1, 1920, franked with a U. S. 6 cent Airmail stamp (Scott listed as the first airmail stamp of the US). That was considered under the embargo, which supposedly covered material issued after the Castro assumption of power in the early 1950's. Since early Cuba stamp material is being auctioned off with no issues at major NYC auction houses, I presume there are also auctions of the coins. I once had nearly everything, including a lovely 1898 Peso, one of the most valuable coins I ever owned. Anyway, this is not the Peso values, but includes the full 43 value set of coins issued by the Republic of Cuba, plus a 20 piece set of type coins. I believe NGC has been grading them for some years, I'm not certain whether PCGS does them. I hesitate to have them graded, because of the cost, even if I separated the ones I considered were MS60 and above. Any interest in collecting them these days??
There's quite a few collectors of Cuban coins and currency . In fact there's a post right now on CT of Cuban notes both pre and post embargo . Since ebay has made it almost impossible to buy and sell Cuban goods there's been quite new site spring up to fill the collectors needs.
PayPal also prohibits the sale of Cuban coins - they permanently locked my account and reported me to the Office of Foreign Assets Control for selling a Cuban peso.
I haven't set up lighting for photography, so these are just scans of the coins. The type set doesn't have the 50c Marti, that is at the end of the full set. The last page includes some misc pieces, including a semi-bogus medal produced by a supposed refugee group, etc. The pages enlarge fairly well, but they really aren't grading quality, obviously. If anyone cares, I can scan both sides of individual coins.
I went on eBay and took a quick look at Cuba, using the work arounds, and was surprised at the asking prices. The quality of the coins is also not the greatest, to say the least. A pair of the 1952 10c and 20c seems a tad high at $90.... and they don't look Unc, probably circulated examples. The same can be said for the 40c, which seem to be premium coins. I did appreciate the photos of the 1932 20c, as it gave me a better idea of the condition of mine, which is close... thanks to the poster of that tough coin to find.
