1 Peso Dolphins

Cuba issued a series of colorized nickel-plated steel pesos in the early 1990s primarily for the tourist and collector market, during the "Special Period" — the severe economic contraction that followed the collapse of Soviet subsidies in 1991. Hard currency was desperately needed, and these pieces were priced well above face value for foreign buyers while ordinary Cubans remained locked out of dollar-denominated commerce by the dual-currency system then in force.

KM#439 is one of several wildlife-themed pieces from this program. The colorization was applied post-strike, a detail that affects long-term preservation — the enamel layer is prone to edge lifting with age.