Cuba
The peso (ISO 4217 code: CUP, sometimes called the "national peso" or in Spanish moneda nacional) is one of two official currencies in use in Cuba, the other being the convertible peso (ISO 4217 code: CUC, occasionally referred to as "dollar" in spoken language). The conversion between (CUC) and (MN) is $1(CUC)=$25(MN).
Cuban state workers receive a portion of their wages in convertible pesos, the rest in national pesos. Shops selling basics, like fruit and vegetables, generally accept only the normal peso, while "dollar shops" sell the rest.
The word "pesos" may refer to both non-convertible and convertible money. Cuban convertible pesos are 25 times more valuable, but this does not completely eliminate the confusion for tourists: since goods bought in national pesos have controlled prices, tourists are sometimes confused by prices perceived as "too cheap.
Source: Wikipedia
1897 - Cuba P53 20 Centavos banknote (XF)
This Cuban banknote is a 20 Centavos regular issue associated with 1897 and identified by the catalo..
1949 - Cuba P77a 1 Peso (XF) banknote
This Cuban 1 Peso banknote is identified as Pick 77a and belongs to the 1949 issue of Banco de Cuba...
1949 - Cuba P79a 10 Pesos banknote F
This Cuba 10 Pesos banknote is associated with 1949 and is identified as Pick P79a. The supplied pro..
1950 - Cuba P 81a 50 Pesos banknote
This individual Cuba banknote is a 50 Pesos regular issue associated with 1950. It was issued by Ban..
1956 - Cuba P87a 1 Peso banknote
This Cuba 1956 issue is a 1 Peso banknote from Banco Nacional de Cuba, catalogued as Pick 87a. The o..
1956 - Cuba P88a 10 Pesos banknote
This Cuban 10 Pesos banknote is identified as Pick 88a and belongs to the 1956 issue of the Banco Na..
1956 - Cuba P88a 10 Pesos banknote F
Cuba 10 Pesos banknote from the 1956 issue, catalogued as Pick 88a and listed in condition F. The is..
1957 - Cuba P87b 1 Peso banknote
This Cuban 1 Peso banknote is associated with the 1957 series and is catalogued as Cuba Pick 87b. It..
1957 - Cuba P87b 1 Peso banknote XF
This Cuban 1 Peso banknote is associated with the 1957 issue and is catalogued as Cuba P87b. The not..
1958 - Cuba P80b 20 Pesos banknote
This Cuba 20 Pesos banknote is associated with the 1958 issue and is identified by the catalogue ref..
Frequently asked questions
What periods and types of Cuban banknotes are represented in this shop’s catalog?
This Cuba category spans issues dated from 1896 through the 2020s. It includes regular notes from issuers such as Banco Español de la Isla de Cuba, Banco de Cuba, Banco Nacional de Cuba and Banco Central de Cuba. The catalog also represents commemorative issues, 1985 foreign-exchange notes and specimen notes marked “Especimen” or “Muestra.” These listings illustrate the scope of this shop’s catalog rather than every banknote issued for Cuba.
Which Cuban banknote denominations appear in the catalog?
The catalog includes Cuban notes denominated in centavos and pesos. Represented examples include 20 centavos and peso denominations of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. These occur across regular, commemorative, foreign-exchange and specimen issues. A denomination alone does not identify a note because the same value may appear in different years, designs and Pick varieties. Collectors should therefore compare the denomination with the issuer, date, design and catalog reference.
How can I distinguish closely related Cuban Pick varieties?
Start with the complete Pick reference and then verify visible details. For the 1896 10-peso design, P49c is described without an overprint, while P49d carries a red “PLATA” overprint on the back. The long-running 1-peso design appears under references including P102a, P102b, P102c and P102d, with catalog listings separated by variety and year. Other useful identifiers include serial-number color, issuer, printer, signature titles and specimen overprints.
How are Che Guevara-related Cuban notes identified in this catalog?
The catalog distinguishes notes bearing Che Guevara’s signature from notes featuring his portrait. Signature varieties include 1960 issues such as P80c in 20 pesos, P88c in 10 pesos, P91c in 5 pesos and P92 in 5 pesos; their descriptions identify his signature as bank president. Separately, P107b and commemorative P127a/P127b are 3-peso designs portraying Ernesto Che Guevara. Buyers should confirm whether a listing refers to a signature, portrait or both rather than relying only on the name.
What should I check before selecting a Cuban banknote from this category?
Check the Pick number, denomination, issue year, issuer, issue type and stated grade. Some designs occur in several varieties or years, and listings may distinguish conditions such as F, VF, XF or UNC. Also read the image note carefully: many catalog images are references, and the serial number shown may not be the one supplied, while some listings state that the pictured banknote corresponds to the item. These details help compare like-for-like Cuban notes without assuming that similar titles describe identical varieties.
What is distinctive about the Cuban foreign-exchange notes represented here?
The foreign-exchange group is identified by P-FX references and includes several denominations and lettered series. Many 1985 examples display the coat of arms of the National Bank of Cuba on the front, with a series letter in a circle. Described backs include engravings of Cuban fortifications, such as Castillo de San Salvador de La Punta, Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro, Castillo de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Jagua and Castillo de La Real Fuerza. Other P-FX notes use simpler denomination-centered backs.