1950 Cuba 100 Pesos Banco Nacional PMG 66 EPQ P-82a Aguilera ABNC Pre-Revolution Type Note

1950 Cuba 100 Pesos Banco Nacional PMG 66 EPQ P-82a Aguilera ABNC Pre-Revolution Type Note

Presented here is a classic 100 pesos note from the Banco Nacional de Cuba, series of 1950. This large-denomination issue is listed in the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money as Pick 82a and is printed by the renowned American Bank Note Company (ABNC). The note shown bears bright red serial number A555449A and has been authenticated and graded PMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated, then sealed in a secure PMG holder.

Historical significance

Issued in 1950, this note comes from the prosperous pre-revolution period when the Cuban peso circulated at near parity with the U.S. dollar and Cuba was a major regional financial hub. The central portrait is F. Aguilera, generally identified as Francisco Vicente Aguilera, one of the principal leaders of the Ten Years’ War for independence from Spain. His image aligns the mid-20th-century republic with the earlier struggle for sovereignty, making this note a tangible link between Cuba’s independence heroes and its later economic life.

Design and features

The face of the note is a showpiece of ABNC steel-plate engraving. A finely rendered bust of Aguilera, complete with his distinctive full beard, is enclosed in an ornate oval frame set against a soft rose-lavender underprint filled with repeating microtext. Around the central portrait, baroque scrollwork and acanthus leaves rise into the upper corners where bold “100” denomination numerals sit in dark frames.

A vivid red Banco Nacional de Cuba star seal sits at left, partially over the word “CIEN”, while the large “100 PESOS” counter at right leaves no doubt about the value. Matching red serial numbers and period signatures complete a layout that balances elegance and legibility with strong anti-counterfeiting detail.

The reverse is printed in rich violet. At center appears the coat of arms of the Republic of Cuba, surrounded by laurel branches and radiating wave patterns that draw the eye inward. Large “100 PESOS” counters dominate both side panels, surrounded by intricate guilloché and geometric lathework typical of ABNC’s finest mid-century Latin American designs. The combination of bold numerals, national symbols, and delicate line work gives the note a powerful yet refined presence.

Remarkable denomination

At 100 pesos, this was among the highest-value notes regularly circulating in 1950s Cuba, more often associated with banking operations, business payments, and savings than with small day-to-day purchases. Surviving examples therefore offer an excellent window into the monetary scale and purchasing power of the island’s economy in the decade leading up to the revolution.

Catalog and reference details

• Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: Pick 82a

• Country: Cuba

• Issuer: Banco Nacional de Cuba

• Denomination: 100 Pesos (Cien Pesos)

• Series date: 1950

• Portrait: F. Aguilera (Francisco Vicente Aguilera)

• Printer: American Bank Note Company (ABNC)

• Serial number: A555449A

Collector’s value

For the specialist in Cuban or Latin American paper money, this 1950 100 pesos is a centerpiece type: a high denomination, historically meaningful portrait, and classic ABNC engraving, all backed by PMG certification. It pairs beautifully with lower denominations of the same series or stands alone as a striking example of pre-revolution Cuban currency. If you are building a world type set, a Cold War–era collection, or a dedicated Cuba run, this note offers exceptional visual appeal and a strong story in a single piece.