1896 Cuba 10 Pesos “PLATA” Silver Coin Note PMG 63 CU – Pick 49d Banco Español de la Isla de Cuba

1896 Cuba 10 Pesos “PLATA” Silver Coin Note PMG 63 CU – Pick 49d Banco Español de la Isla de Cuba

Offered here is a beautifully preserved 1896 10 Pesos note from Cuba, issued by El Banco Español de la Isla de Cuba during the final years of Spanish colonial rule. Graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated, this example is cataloged as Pick# 49d, with the distinctive red “PLATA” overprint signifying its redemption in silver coin—a critical distinction in Cuba’s dual monetary system of the time.

Printed by the world-renowned American Bank Note Company (ABNC), this note exhibits superb artistry, intricate engraving, and bold multicolor print. As a silver-backed issue, this 10 Pesos note represents a rare survivor of Cuba’s 19th-century financial history.

Authentication & Certification:

• Issuer: El Banco Español de la Isla de Cuba

• Date: 15 de Marzo de 1896

• Denomination: 10 Pesos

• Pick Number: P-49d

• Serial Number: 577468

• Grade: PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated

• Printer: American Bank Note Company (ABNC), New York

• Overprint: Red “PLATA” on reverse

• Color Scheme: Multicolor – Black, green, and red

Design & Features:

Obverse:

• Central rural agricultural vignette, showing oxen-drawn carts in a sugarcane field—symbolizing Cuba’s economic backbone under Spanish rule.

• Bold green underprint with DIEZ (Ten) Pesos denomination flanked by two large “10” counters.

• Red serial numbers and clean margins.

• Denomination promise includes “en moneda metálica” (in metallic coin), a legally binding assurance of silver coin redemption.

• Detailed border and microtext at bottom printed by ABNC.

Reverse:

• Highly ornate ABNC-style green security pattern surrounding the central bank crest.

• Large diagonal “PLATA” red overprint, identifying this note as part of Cuba’s silver-backed currency system.

• Brilliant red seal patterns at the left and right flanks, adding visual and anti-counterfeit appeal.

• Bottom edge marked “American Bank Note Company, New York”.

Historical Context:

This note was issued at the height of Spanish control over Cuba, just two years before the outbreak of the Spanish-American War. During this period, El Banco Español de la Isla de Cuba acted as the colony’s central issuing bank. The overprinted “PLATA” (Spanish for silver) clearly indicated that this note could be redeemed specifically for silver coinage—an essential distinction in an era when paper money often circulated alongside both silver and fiduciary notes of varying trustworthiness.

The 1896 10 Pesos Plata note is considered a transitional artifact, representing the decline of Spanish influence just before Cuban independence and the island’s realignment with U.S. monetary systems in the early 20th century.

Collector’s Value:

Graded PMG 63 Choice Uncirculated, this is one of the finest certified examples of the Pick 49d “PLATA” overprint currently available. With strong eye appeal, vibrant red overprint, crisp engraving, and zero impairments, it stands out as a prime piece for collectors of:

• Colonial Cuban currency

• Spanish-American War-era artifacts

• Silver-backed paper money

• ABNC historical designs

Few notes from the pre-1898 Cuban financial system survive in such high grades, and even fewer bear the rare “PLATA” designation. A magnificent historical banknote for serious collections.