1949 Cuba 20 Pesos Banco Nacional PMG 66 EPQ Gem UNC Pick 80a Antonio Maceo

1949 Cuba 20 Pesos Banco Nacional PMG 66 EPQ Gem UNC Pick 80a Antonio Maceo

Offered here is a classic Cuba 20 Pesos note from the Serie de 1949, issued by the Banco Nacional de Cuba and certified PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ. This type is cataloged as Pick 80a and features a bold portrait of independence hero Antonio Maceo at center, with red serial numbers and the red national-bank seal.

Printed by the American Bank Note Company (ABNC) on high-quality security paper, this example combines beautiful mid-century engraving with top-tier third-party certification.

Authenticity & Technical Details

• Country: Cuba

• Issuer: Banco Nacional de Cuba

• Series / Date: Serie de 1949

• Denomination: 20 Pesos

• Catalog: Pick 80a (Standard Catalog of World Paper Money)

• Printer: American Bank Note Company (ABNC)

• Grade: PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ – Exceptional Paper Quality

• Serial numbers: Red (characteristic of the 1949 & 1958 issues)

• Primary colors: Black on olive-yellow underprint; olive reverse

The PMG holder provides full protection and confirms originality of paper, ink, and embossing, with the coveted EPQ designation for superior paper quality.

Historical Significance

This note belongs to the last generation of pre-revolution Cuban pesos, issued when the Cuban peso circulated at parity with the U.S. dollar and was explicitly backed by gold and foreign-exchange reserves.

The portrait honors General Antonio Maceo Grajales, a key Afro-Cuban leader of the Wars of Independence against Spain. Known as “El Titán de Bronce” (the Bronze Titan), Maceo became a powerful symbol of courage, anti-colonial resistance, and racial equality in the young republic. His presence on the 20-peso note reflects the importance of independence heroes in Cuban national identity.

Printed just a decade before the 1959 revolution, these Banco Nacional issues represent a vanished monetary system and a politically turbulent period in Cuban history.

Design & Features

Obverse

• Finely engraved oval portrait of Antonio Maceo at center.

• Large curved title “BANCO NACIONAL DE CUBA” above the portrait.

• Denomination “20 PESOS / VEINTE” in ornate scrollwork at each corner and across the central field.

• Prominent red star seal of the Banco Nacional de Cuba at left and red serial numbers at left and right, providing vivid color contrast.

• Guarantee text below stating that the note is fully backed by gold, foreign exchange, and other assets of the Banco Nacional, and constitutes an obligation of the Cuban state.

The intricate guilloches, scrolls, and shaded borders are characteristic of ABNC artistry and were designed to deter counterfeiting while giving the note an elegant, classical feel.

Reverse

• Dramatic radiating sunburst behind the coat of arms of the Republic of Cuba in an oval frame at center.

• Banner “REPUBLICA DE CUBA” across the top, with large “VEINTE PESOS / 20” devices at left and right.

• Legal-tender clause along the bottom border, stating the note’s unlimited liberatory power for debts within the national territory.

The reverse’s monochrome olive palette and sweeping rays give the design a sense of depth and national pride, making this one of the most visually striking mid-century Cuban notes.

Remarkable Denomination

At 20 pesos, this note represented a significant sum in late-1940s Cuba, when the peso still held strong purchasing power and was legally convertible into gold or foreign currency through the Banco Nacional.

Today, that once-substantial everyday denomination survives mainly in the collections of paper-money enthusiasts, as both a monetary artifact and a window into Cuba’s pre-revolution financial system.

Catalog Numbers

• Pick: 80a – 20 Pesos, Banco Nacional de Cuba, Antonio Maceo, red serials, 1949 issue.

• Also listed in price guides as “1949–1960 20 Pesos, Arms on back, ABNC”.

Including the catalog reference in your listing helps catalog-driven collectors quickly recognize this exact type.

Collector’s Value

For world-paper enthusiasts and Cuba specialists, this PMG-graded note offers:

• A high-grade pre-revolution Cuban type with superb embossing and margins.

• Classic ABNC engraving featuring one of Cuba’s most important independence heroes.

• Strong eye appeal thanks to the contrasting red serials and seal, and the bright olive reverse.

• A desirable Gem Uncirculated EPQ 66 grade, ideal for registry sets or as a centerpiece type example.

Whether you’re building a Cuba type set, a collection of Latin American ABNC issues, or simply appreciate beautifully engraved mid-century banknotes, this 1949 20 Pesos Antonio Maceo – PMG 66 EPQ will be a standout addition.