Cuba 20‑centavos coin, 1962

Coin

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

Cuba 20‑centavos coin, 1962

Entry/Object ID

2025.2.7

Description

Circular brass‑colored coin. Obverse (image 1): left‑facing bust of José Martí, with the legend "PATRIA O MUERTE" arched above and the date "1962" at lower left. Reverse (image 2): the Cuban national coat of arms (shield with key, rising sun, royal palm) flanked by oak and laurel branches, with the legend "REPÚBLICA DE CUBA" above and the denomination "VEINTE CENTAVOS" below. Beaded/dentil border both sides.

Use

Anna Veltfort brought it to the US either when she moved back in 1971 or when she visited Cuba in the 2000s.

Collection

Anna Veltfort collection

Acquisition

Accession

2025.2

Source or Donor

Anna Veltfort

Acquisition Method

Gift

Mintage

Date made

1962

Time Period

1960s

Notes

Maker: State issue of the Republic of Cuba (first revolutionary coinage, 1962); struck at an external mint, not identified. No mintmark. Leningrad (USSR) or Kremnica (Czechoslovakia) are the likely candidates but unconfirmed for the 1962 issue.

Coin Details

Obverse

Description

Coat of arms

Transcription

REPUBLICA DE CUBA, VEINTE CENTAVOS

Reverse

Description

Jose Martí pictured in center of coin

Transcription

PATRIA O MUERTE

Translation

Fatherland or death

Edge

Edge Type

Reeding

Issuing Authority

Banco Nacional de Cuba

Currency

Cuban Peso

Denomination

0.20

Dimensions

Diameter

2.5 cm

Weight

6.4 g

Composition

Material

Copper-nickel

Material Notes

Materials: Copper‑nickel, 6.4 g, 24 mm (KM# 31) — per catalog. Technique: Machine‑struck (milled) circulating coin.

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Anna Veltfort

Notes

owner

Person or Organization

Banco Nacional de Cuba

Notes

producer

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

acquisition

Place

City

New York City

State/Province

New York

Country

U.S.A.

Continent

North America

Notes

preservation

Web Links and URLs

Numista

Research Notes

Notes

In Munista: "This coin shares the design of the 1953 issue, but without the 100th anniversary legend, that was replaced for the motto "PATRIA O MUERTE", and also was erased the star to left of Marti. On obverse is shown the regular Cuban coat of arms."

Notes

1962 was the first year of revolutionary Cuban coinage. From 1963 Cuba's coins were struck at Kremnica and Leningrad; mint attribution for the transitional 1962 issue isn't established in the sources consulted.

Created By

Hana Flamm

Create Date

March 25, 2022

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

July 3, 2026