Name/Title
Commemorative medal — DEPORFILEX-82 International Philatelic and Numismatic ExpositionEntry/Object ID
2025.1.187Description
Round metal commemorative medal (table medal / medalla), silvery-gray in tone, struck in relief on both faces with raised rim. One face carries the issuing legend around the upper edge and a stylized figural motif at center: a cartoon-like character with a rounded cap or shell bearing circular bosses, beside a swimming aquatic mammal (flippered, manatee- or seal-like) — apparently an event mascot or emblem. The opposite face shows a weightlifting barbell in which the two end plates are rendered as coins, with a draped/serrated central element below the bar; legends run around the rim and across the lower field. Surfaces show overall toning, scattered contact marks, and minor handling wear; no mount, loop, or suspension is visible.Collection
The Cabrera Arús family collectionMade/Created
Date made
1982Time Period
1980sNotes
Maker: Issued by the Banco Nacional de Cuba (national bank; issuing authority named on the medal). Manufacture presumably by Cuba's state mint (Casa de Moneda de Cuba) — tentative; no mint mark or engraver's signature is legible in the images.Inscription/Signature/Marks
Notes
Mascot face: "BANCO NACIONAL DE CUBA" (curved, upper field).
Sports/barbell face: "EXPOSICION INTERNACIONAL FILATELICA Y NUMISMATICA" (around rim) / "DEPORFILEX-82" (lower field). Note: legend reads "EXPOSICION" without accent as struck.Materials
Material Notes
Materials: Silvery-gray base metal, consistent with nickel or a cupronickel/nickel alloy (tentative — not verified by testing). A comparable specimen offered by a numismatic dealer is described as nickel, 30 mm diameter, 11.8 g; recommend measuring and weighing this piece directly rather than relying on the comparison.
Technique: Die-struck (minted), bas-relief both faces.Relationships
Related Places
Place
Country
CubaRegion
Caribbean, Central AmericaNotes
ussuanceResearch Notes
Notes
DEPORFILEX-82 was an international philatelic and numismatic exposition held in Havana in 1982; the name combines deporte (sport), filatelia (philately), and exposición. The sports theme is carried by the barbell/weightlifting motif, with the two coins standing in for the barbell plates — a visual pun tying the athletic and numismatic subjects together. Cuba issued a postage stamp for the same exposition.Created By
María A. Cabrera ArúsCreate Date
April 30, 2026Updated By
María A. Cabrera ArúsUpdate Date
June 14, 2026
