Catalog
5 Pesos 'C' Foreign Exchange Certificate-Narrow 'C'
| Issuer | Banco Nacional de Cuba |
|---|---|
| Year | 1985 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | P#FX21 |
| Obverse description | Blue and light blue certificado de compra on fine guilloche underprint. At left, a circular vignette of the Cuban coat of arms; at centre, the numeral '5' in green overprint above the denomination 'CINCO PESOS'; at right, a large narrow letter 'C' set within a radiating guilloche oval. Serial number and prefix 'EE' appear twice, at upper centre and lower right, with 'BANCO NACIONAL DE CUBA' along the lower border. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | CERTIFICADO DE COMPRA CINCO PESOS BANCO NACIONAL DE CUBA EE |
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| Comments |
Cuba's Foreign Exchange Certificate series was introduced to capture hard currency from tourists and diplomats while keeping it formally segregated from the peso economy. The "C" series, distinguished by its narrow serif variant of the denomination letter, is a collector subdivision rather than an officially acknowledged printing distinction — the Cuban authorities never publicized the difference, and it went unnoticed in general circulation.
Printed domestically by Impresos de Seguridad rather than contracted abroad, which was unusual for Cuban security printing of the period. The narrow "C" variety is notably scarcer than its wide counterpart, likely reflecting a short print run before the plate or typographic element was modified.