CUBAN COINAGE STRUCK AT THE PHILADELPHIA MINT

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V18 2015 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 18, Number 15, April 12, 2015, Article 18

With all the diplomatic moves surrounding Cuba these days it's interesting to note that this year marks the centenary of the first Cuban coinage struck at the Philadelphia mint. In the March 31, 2015 Cuban Numismatic Association newsletter, Editor Emilio M. Ortiz published a great 8-page article on the topic. Here's an excerpt. -Editor

The Cuban Monetary Law was signed on October 29th, 1914. The Law was very specific, detailing not only the amount of coins to be issued with their values, but also their metal composition as well as their thickness, weight and diameter.

Article VII of the Law reads in part: “Every coin shall be stamped with its value, weight and fineness, year of coinage, and the inscription “Republica de Cuba”, and the gold coins shall bear, besides, the effigy of Marti, and on the reverse the escutcheon of the Republic. Silver and nickel coins shall have stamped on the reverse the escutcheon of the Republic and on the obverse a five point star. Gold coins of five, ten and twenty pesos shall be of the same shape, weight and value as the corresponding coins of the United States of America, and those of four, two and one peso shall be proportionate to the above size and weight.”

We can positively ascertain from the above the correct obverse and reverse of these coins, which is not how it is shown on some Catalogs.

On December 3, 1914 Mr. Charles A. Conant, of New York, and representing the Cuban Government, writes to Mr. Charles E. Barber at the U.S. Philadelphia Mint asking for his interest in engraving the dies for the new Cuban coinage.

Barber replies on December 4th, indicating his vast experience in this matter “…we have made the dies for coinage for almost all the Central and South American countries, besides those for Panama and the Philippine, therefore can claim a pretty wide experience in this line. For about forty years we have made the dies for the coinage of the United States…”

Conant and Barber meet in Philadelphia on December 9th, and Barber follows up with a letter sent on the 10th. where he indicates “I will agree to furnish for approval sketches for both obverse and reverse using such material as you are able to supply…” also indicating “I will make the necessary models, matrixes and hubs for the reproduction of the working dies…”

On December 19th, 1914 Mr. Leopoldo Cancio acting as Cuba’s Secretary of Treasury notifies Conant “After careful consideration, and having consulted with the President about the different points brought up by the artists, I have decided to accept Mr. Barber’s proposition as it seems to me that his familiarity with coinage at large will give best results.” Cancio further indicates “You are hereby directed to order the execution of the work in accordance with Mr. Barber’s proposition of December 10, 1914. It is understood that sketches must be submitted for approval previous to the final execution of the work.”