1960 Cuba 50 Pesos Banco Nacional PMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem Pick 81c Black Serial Calixto Garcia

1960 Cuba 50 Pesos Banco Nacional PMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem Pick 81c Black Serial Calixto Garcia

Presented is a gorgeous 1960 Cuba 50 Pesos note from the Banco Nacional de Cuba, certified PMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem Uncirculated.

Catalogued as Pick 81c, this is the scarce black-serial-number variety of the classic 50-peso design featuring independence hero Calixto García Iñiguez. The note was produced by the famed American Bank Note Company and represents one of the highest-grade survivors of Cuba’s final pre-reform large-size peso series.

Authenticity & Technical Details

• Country: Cuba

• Issuer: Banco Nacional de Cuba

• Series / Date: Serie de 1960

• Denomination: 50 Pesos (CINCUENTA PESOS)

• Catalog reference: Pick 81c – black serial numbers

• Printer: American Bank Note Company (ABNC)

• Serial numbers: Black, with prefix/suffix “C … A”

• Grade: PMG 67 EPQ – Superb Gem Uncirculated, Exceptional Paper Quality

The PMG holder confirms originality of the paper and ink, and 67 EPQ places this note firmly in top-pop Superb Gem territory, with outstanding centering, color and crispness.

Historical Significance

Although dated 1960, this note continues the elegant design style of the First Republic issues of the 1950s. It was printed just as revolutionary changes were transforming Cuba’s political and economic system, making late Banco Nacional notes like this an important “end of an era” type.

The central portrait honors General Calixto García Iñiguez, one of the most important military leaders of the Cuban Wars of Independence against Spain. His image on the 50-peso note reflects his status as a national hero and symbol of the long struggle for Cuban sovereignty.

The black serial numbers of Pick 81c distinguish this later printing from the earlier red-serial 1950 and 1958 issues (Pick 81a/81b), giving variety collectors a clear subtype to target.

Design & Features

Obverse

• Large oval portrait of Calixto García framed by laurel sprays and Baroque scrollwork.

• Bold arched title “BANCO NACIONAL DE CUBA” across the top.

• Denomination shown in multiple forms:

  • Large “50” counters in all four corners

  • Word “CINCUENTA” across the center, printed over the red star seal

  • Raised metallic-style “50 PESOS” at right.

• Vivid red Banco Nacional star seal at left provides strong contrast against the warm yellow central field.

• Black serial numbers at lower left and upper right, matching the text and frame.

• Fine-print guarantee along the bottom border noting 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.

Reverse

• Printed in rich orange-yellow, dominated by a wide scroll cartouche reading “CINCUENTA PESOS”.

• Central coat of arms of the Republic of Cuba within a circular frame, surrounded by radiating lines and guilloche patterns.

• “REPUBLICA DE CUBA” banner at top; “50” counters in every corner; legal-tender text along the bottom margin.

ABNC’s engraving gives the note exquisite detail and strong color, and at this lofty grade every line, micro-detail and fiber stands out under light.

Remarkable Denomination

At 50 Pesos, this was one of the highest circulating denominations of its day, representing significant purchasing power in the early 1960s Cuban economy. Today the face value is long obsolete, but the note survives as a superbly preserved artifact of Cuba’s last traditional peso series.

Collector’s Value

This note brings together everything advanced collectors look for:

• Desirable variety – 1960 Pick 81c black-serial type, the final printing of this design.

• Top-tier grade – PMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem, a tough level for large-format Cuban notes.

• Classic ABNC engraving featuring a key independence hero and a dramatic orange reverse.

Whether you are assembling a Cuba type set, focusing on Caribbean Superb Gems, or building an exhibit of pre-reform Cuban currency, this 1960 50 Pesos PMG 67 EPQ will stand out as a centerpiece in any collection.