1960 Cuba 50 Pesos Banco Nacional Pick 81c PMG 66 EPQ Gem UNC Black Serial

1960 Cuba 50 Pesos Banco Nacional Pick 81c PMG 66 EPQ Gem UNC Black Serial

Offered is a beautiful 1960 Cuba 50 Pesos note from the Banco Nacional de Cuba, certified PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ.

This is the black-serial-number variety, catalogued as Pick 81c, and features the portrait of independence general Calixto García Iñiguez at center. The note was printed by the renowned American Bank Note Company (ABNC) and shows superb color, margins, and paper originality.

Note & Holder Details

• Country: Cuba

• Issuer: Banco Nacional de Cuba

• Series / Date: Serie de 1960

• Denomination: 50 Pesos (CINCUENTA PESOS)

• Catalog: Pick 81c – 50 Pesos, black serial numbers

• Printer: American Bank Note Company

• Serial numbers: Black, prefix/suffix C 174127 A

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

PMG encapsulation guarantees authenticity and confirms untouched, original paper with strong embossing and color.

Historical Significance

This note belongs to the final pre-reform series of the Cuban peso, issued just after the revolution but still carrying the design language of the earlier republic. High-denomination notes like this circulated in an economy in transition, shortly before major monetary and banking changes that would transform Cuba’s financial system.

The portrait is General Calixto García Iñiguez (1839–1898), a central figure in the Cuban Wars of Independence against Spain. His presence on one of the highest denominations underscores his status as a national hero and symbol of the independence movement.

Design & Features

Obverse

• Large oval portrait of Calixto García framed by laurel branches and ornate scrollwork.

• Curved title “BANCO NACIONAL DE CUBA” at the top.

• Denomination expressed in multiple ways:

  • “50” counters in all four corners

  • Text “CINCUENTA” across the center over the red Banco Nacional star seal

  • Bold, metallic-style “50 PESOS” at right

• Vivid red national-bank star seal at left.

• Black serial numbers at lower left and upper right.

• Along the bottom, a guarantee stating that the note is fully backed by gold, foreign exchange, and other assets of the bank and is an obligation of the Cuban state.

Reverse

• Printed in rich orange-yellow with fine ABNC guilloche patterns.

• Central coat of arms of the Republic of Cuba within a circular frame.

• Large script “CINCUENTA PESOS” in an ornate scroll cartouche, “50” counters in each corner, and banner “REPUBLICA DE CUBA” above.

The combination of yellow, black, orange, and red inks, together with razor-sharp engraving, makes this one of the most attractive mid-20th-century Cuban types.

Remarkable Denomination

At 50 pesos, this was a high-value banknote in 1960s Cuba, used for wages, savings, and large transactions at a time when the peso still carried substantial purchasing power. Today the note’s face value is long obsolete, and surviving Gem examples like this are prized primarily for their artistry, historical context, and scarcity in high grade.

Catalog Reference

• Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: Pick 81c – 50 Pesos, Banco Nacional de Cuba, 1960 series, black serial numbers, Calixto García portrait, printed by ABNC.

Collector’s Value

For collectors of Cuban or Latin American paper money, this note offers a compelling combination of:

• Desirable black-serial-number variety (Pick 81c) from the last issue of this design.

• Classic ABNC engraving with strong color and dramatic layout.

• High third-party grade of PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ, excellent for a type set or registry collection.

Whether you’re building a Cuba type set, assembling a group of Caribbean Gem/ Superb Gem notes, or simply want a standout vintage design with a powerful independence-era portrait, this 1960 50 Pesos PMG 66 EPQ will be a highlight in any collection.