Cuba 40‑centavos coin, 1962 (Camilo Cienfuegos)

Coin

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

Cuba 40‑centavos coin, 1962 (Camilo Cienfuegos)

Entry/Object ID

2025.4.2

Description

Circular silver‑gray coin. Obverse (image 1): right‑facing bearded bust of Camilo Cienfuegos, with the legend "PATRIA O MUERTE" arched above and the date "1962" at 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 "CUARENTA CENTAVOS" below. Beaded/dentil border both sides.

Use

This mint was not abundant. People saw them as lucky charms. Donor, who arrived in the US in 1994, kept it in her New Jersey home.

Context

This was a circulating coin, minted in 1962 for the 30th anniversary of Camilo Cienfuegos Gorriarán birth. It was demonetized in October 1997.

Acquisition

Accession

2025.4

Source or Donor

Eida del Risco

Acquisition Method

Gift

Mintage

Date made

1962 - 1997

Time Period

1960s

Place of Origin

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

Maker: State issue of the Republic of Cuba (first revolutionary coinage, 1962). No mintmark on the coin; struck at an external mint, not identified (per the 1962‑issue mint question discussed earlier). Date: 1962 (dated on the obverse). In range. Place of Origin: Cuba (national coinage).

Coin Details

Obverse

Description

Cuban coat of arms, country name as curved legend on top, face value in letters as curved legend on bottom.

Transcription

REPUBLICA DE CUBA

Reverse

Description

Portrait of Camilo Cienfuegos Gorriarán, Cuban hero (1932-1959), motto "Patria o Muerte" as curved legend on top, date on left.

Transcription

PATRIA O MUERTE

Translation

Fatherland or death

Edge

Edge Type

Reeding

Issuing Authority

Banco Nacional de Cuba

Currency

Cuban Peso

Denomination

0.40

Dimensions

Diameter

2.75 cm

Composition

Material

Metal

Material Notes

Materials: Copper‑nickel; approximately 10 g; 28 mm diameter (KM# 32) — per catalog; not independently verified by assay. Technique: Machine‑struck (milled) coin.

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Eida del Risco

Notes

owner

Person or Organization

Camilo Cienfuegos Gorriarán

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

use

Place

City

West New York

State/Province

New Jersey

Country

U.S.A.

Continent

North America

Notes

preservation

Web Links and URLs

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces5118.html

Research Notes

Notes

Subject: Camilo Cienfuegos (Cuban revolutionary commander, 1932–1959) — the only Cuban coin to feature him; issued for the 30th anniversary of his birth.

Notes

1962 was the first year of revolutionary Cuban coinage; the coin was later demonetized owing to confusion with the similarly sized 3‑peso coin. Mint not established for the 1962 issues in sources consulted.

Created By

Hana Flamm

Create Date

March 25, 2022

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

July 3, 2026