1958 Cuba 50 Pesos Banco Nacional PMG 67 EPQ P-81b Calixto Garcia Pre-Revolution Note

1958 Cuba 50 Pesos Banco Nacional PMG 67 EPQ P-81b Calixto Garcia Pre-Revolution Note

Offered here is a classic pre-revolutionary 50 pesos issue from the Banco Nacional de Cuba, series of 1958. This type is recorded in the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money as Pick 81b and was printed by the renowned American Bank Note Company in New York. The note in this listing carries the red serial number B590728A and is authenticated and encapsulated by PMG (Paper Money Guaranty) in a tamper-evident holder.

Historical significance

Dated 1958, this note comes from the final years of the Batista era, just before the Cuban Revolution dramatically reshaped the island’s political and economic landscape. At the time, the Cuban peso circulated at near parity with the U.S. dollar, so a 50-peso note represented a substantial amount of purchasing power in everyday life. The portrait is Calixto García Iñíguez, one of Cuba’s most respected independence generals, linking this banknote directly to the island’s 19th-century struggle against Spanish colonial rule and to the national identity that the new republic sought to project.

Design and features

The face of the note combines refined intaglio engraving with strong color contrasts. García’s detailed oval portrait is framed by laurel branches and elaborate scrollwork, all rendered in deep black inks over a warm yellow underprint. Large “50” denomination values appear in ornate frames at each corner, while the central red overprint with the Banco Nacional de Cuba seal and the word “CINCUENTA” adds an eye-catching focal point. Bold red serial numbers and period signatures complete the design, typical of high-quality mid-20th-century ABNC work.

The reverse is printed in rich orange, dominated by a cartouche framing the coat of arms of the Republic of Cuba, flanked by laurel branches. The denomination “CINCUENTA PESOS” is repeated prominently, with additional “50” counters in all four corners. Fine guilloché patterns, intricate line work, and the repeating CINCUENTA PESOS text in the border serve as built-in security features and showcase the artistry of ABNC engraving.

Remarkable denomination

A face value of 50 pesos made this note a high-value piece for its time, usually reserved for larger transactions, savings, or business use rather than everyday pocket change. As later decades brought currency reform and isolation from U.S. markets, these substantial pre-revolution pesos became symbols of a very different Cuban monetary era.

Catalog and reference

• Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: Pick 81b

• Issuer: Banco Nacional de Cuba

• Series date: 1958

• Printer: American Bank Note Company (ABNC)

• Portrait: Calixto García Iñíguez

Collector’s value

For collectors of Cuban and Latin American paper money, this 1958 50 pesos is a prime type note: pre-revolution date, historically important portrait, classic ABNC engraving, and secure third-party authentication. It fits beautifully into a world type set, a specialized Cuban collection, or any display focused on Cold War-era monetary history. Attractive large-size design, strong national symbolism, and the backing of PMG certification make this an especially compelling piece to add to your collection.