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10 Pesos Lighthouse of Alexandria
| Issuer | Cuba |
|---|---|
| Year | 1997 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 15 g |
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| Obverse description | The Cuban national coat of arms occupies the central field, featuring the traditional escutcheon with a key, royal palm, and rising sun, flanked by an oak branch and laurel wreath. The legend REPUBLICA DE CUBA arcs along the upper periphery. The face value 10 PESOS is inscribed along the lower periphery, while the metal designation AG 0.999 and weight 15 G appear on either side of the arms in the field. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A detailed rendering of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria (Pharos of Alexandria) dominates the central field, depicted as a multi-tiered tower rising from a coastal setting. A curved legend arcs along the upper periphery identifying the series, while the name of the monument appears as a straight legend in the lower portion of the field. The date 1997 and a mintmark are positioned to the right side of the design. |
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| Additional information |
Part of Cuba's long-running "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World" series, this issue was produced during the Special Period — the sustained economic crisis following the Soviet collapse that gutted Cuban state finances through the 1990s. The series was never intended for domestic circulation; hard currency from foreign collector sales was the explicit goal, a common arrangement between the Cuban mint and Spanish intermediaries during this decade.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria was destroyed — most likely by earthquakes — sometime between the 10th and 14th centuries, with Arab traveler Ibn Battuta recording a ruined structure on his 1326 visit that was impassable by the time he returned in 1349.