(Republic of Cuba)
Currency - Peso (CUP)
This is a commemorative note dated 2025 and is issued to celebrate the country's 65 Years of Cuban Banking System (1960-2025). This note was reportedly issued officially on 21.10.2025.
Whilst this note was issued to celebrate the country's 65th year of banking system, it is not much of a banking system or celebration as all banks in Cuba were nationalised in October 1960. The nationalisation of all banks in Cuba commenced on 17.09.1960, started with the three major US owned banks, namely - The National City Bank of New York, Chase Manhattan Bank (was then known as Chase National Bank) and Bank of Boston. The rest of the remaining banks were nationalised on 13.10.1960. However, two foreign banks were not initially included in this nationalisation programme, namely The Royal Bank of Canada and Bank of Nova Scotia. Despite this concession, these two banks later closed their operations in Cuba and both were acquired by the Cuban state by the end of 1960.
It was reported that public opinions on this new note were mixed and some criticised the relevance of this commemorative note and the cost of printing of this note. Opinions on this note including the questions of having this new note issued without backing can only worsen the current rampant inflation that the country is already experiencing, and if this note was issued to celebrate the country's 65th year of economic disaster. Obviously the majority of the comments were directed to the current Cuban economy and the need for such notes and the cost associated with issuing a newly designed note. I wonder if new stock for the 1000 pesos banknotes are needed but even then, the authority can still use the previous design and simply just add a commemorative logo on it, rather than redesigning the reverse side of the note, which would cost the bank extra to produce them.
One Thousand Pesos
Front - The design on the front is the same as the current 1000 pesos note printed with the portrait of Julio Antonio Mella McPartland (b.1903-1929). McPartland was a Cuban political activist, journalist and a communist revolutionary. He was also one of the founding members of the Communist Party of Cuba. He was assassinated in 1929, while walking on his way home late at night in Mexico City Mexico. At the time of his assassination, he was walking with photographer Tina Modotti, and after the assassination, the Mexican government tried to implicate her in the murder by defaming her in public with the help of the Americans. Until today, the McPartland murder case is still unresolved. McPartland is related to Matias Ramon Mella Castillo (paternal grandfather b.1816-1864), the founding father of the Dominican Republic. The commemorative logo and text - Sistema Bancario Cubano are printed on the note.
Signature - Juana Lilia Delgado (since 2024)
Watermarks - Julio Antonio Mella McPartland and electrotype 1000
Date - ANO 2025
Size - 150mm x 69mm
Back - Unlike the normal 1000 pesos in circulation, the design on the back for this commemorative is completely new. The design depicts the Sculpture Complex (Che Guevara Mausoleum) dedicated to Commander Ernesto 'Che 'Guevara (b.1928-1967) in Santa Clara which replaced the previous design of the University of Havana. Che Guevara was born Argentinian and is famous around the world. He was the president of the National Bank of Cuba from 1959 to 1961 and then the Minister of Industries from 1961 to 1965. In 1967, he joined the Bolivia National liberation Army fighting against the Bolivia government. He was then wounded and captured on 08.10.1967 in the jungle near La Higuera in Bolivia and executed by the Bolivian army (Bolivian angers) the next day. He was shot by the Bolivian Army warrant Officer Sergeant Mario Teran Salazar (b.1942-2022). It was reported the order for the execution of Che Guevara came from the CIA. In all, Salazar fired a total of 9 shots at Che Guevara, first hitting his arms and legs and then his chest that finally killed him. It appears that Che Guevara was made to suffer first by the executioner before his execution.
The Che Guevara Mausoleum was built and completed in 1988. The mausoleum housed the remains of Che Guevara and 29 fellow combatants all killed in 1967 during Guevara's armed uprising in Bolivia. The mausoleum has a 22-foot statue of Guevara standing on a concrete pillar. Guevara's remains were discovered and exhumed and returned to Cuba and was buried in the mausoleum in 1997 with full military honors.
The note on the back is only printed with a mono colour. The commemorative logo is also printed on the bottom left corner, and because the back is printed in mono colour, it is not easy to spot this unless you have a closer look. This note is still printed with white borders on all sides, one of the very few countries still printing banknotes in such a manner.
It should be noted that Fildel Alejandro Castro Ruz (b.1926-2016) and his revolutionary force captured Havana that led to the overthrow of Fugencio Batista y Zaldivar's government on 01.01.1959. On 02.01.1959, Castro appointed Guevara as the commander of the La Cabana Fortress prison and he was in charge with the purging of Batista's army or anyone that were considered as the enemies of the revolution. In doing so, Guevara ordered the executions of those he considered as traitors, informants or committed war criminals.
The reason I added some of the stories above is that every banknote tells a thousand words. Every banknote designed has a meaning to it and whilst not all agree or disagree to it, only the opinions of the locals matter, and even that, there are still no right or wrong answers but just opinions. Please note that I am either pro or anti any countries or any individuals here.
It was reported back in December 2025 that the Central Bank is in the process to authorise foreign banknotes as legal tender currencies in Cuba. In reality, foreign banknotes have been openly acceptable as payment by private businesses for quite a while now and often get change in pesos. The most common foreign currencies used in Cuba are the USD, Euro and Canadian dollar. The exchange rates offered by those private businesses are always better than the official exchanges.
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