Cuba INTUR 5‑centavos tourist coin, 1981 (Polymita snail)

Coin

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

Entry/Object ID

2025.2.8

Description

Circular brass‑colored coin. One face (image 1): a coiled land‑snail shell (Cuban Polymita) in relief, encircled by the legend "INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE TURISMO," with "1981 · CUBA" below. Other face (image 2): the INTUR logo — a stylized royal palm above a boat/horizon device with "INTUR" lettering — over the denomination "CINCO CENTAVOS." Plain raised rim both sides.

Use

Belonged to Anna Veltfort, who brought it back with her to New York City after a visit in the 2000s to Havana, where she kept it as a Cuban souvenir.

Context

Circulation restricted to foreign visitors/residents, only valid in shops catering to tourists, as equivalent to foreign currencies.

Collection

Anna Veltfort collection

Acquisition

Accession

2025.2

Source or Donor

Anna Veltfort

Acquisition Method

Gift

Mintage

Date made

1981 - 1989

Time Period

1980s

Notes

Maker: Issued by the Instituto Nacional de Turismo (INTUR) of Cuba, for the tourist/visitor coinage series. No mintmark on the coin.

Coin Details

Obverse

Description

Polymite shell surrounded by inscription

Transcription

Instituto Nacional de Turismo 1981 Cuba

Translation

National Institute of Tourism 1981 Cuba

Reverse

Description

Logo of the National Institute of Tourism ("INTUR") featuring a Real Palmtree; with face value as numerals on right and in words on bottom.

Transcription

5 INTUR Cinco centavos

Translation

5 INTUR Five Cents

Edge

Edge Type

Plain/Smooth

Issuing Authority

INTUR

Currency

Cuban Visitors' Coinage

Dimensions

Diameter

2 cm

Weight

3.5 g

Composition

Material

Metal

Material Notes

Materials: Brass (golden‑colored) — standard for the INTUR 5‑centavos type; not verified by assay. Technique: Machine‑struck (milled) coin.

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

INTUR

Notes

Producer

Person or Organization

Anna Veltfort

Notes

Owner

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

Acquisition

Place

State/Province

New York

Country

U.S.A.

Continent

North America

Notes

Brought by donor

Web Links and URLs

Numista

Research Notes

Notes

INTUR = Instituto Nacional de Turismo; this is part of Cuba's separate "tourist" / convertible coinage used by foreign visitors at hard‑currency (INTUR) outlets — a distinct monetary circuit from the regular national peso coinage. Obverse motif is the endemic Cuban Polymita (painted snail).

Created By

Hana Flamm

Create Date

March 25, 2022

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

July 3, 2026