Cuba 1989 50 pesos Fr-21

from Heritage sale 3114, lot 33413

This specimen was lot 33413 in Heritage sale 3114 (New York, January 2024), where it sold for $2,100. The lot description^[1] noted, "Cuba. Republic gold "Jose Marti" 50 Pesos (1/2 oz) 1989 MS69 NGC, Havana mint. One of several representatives from the recognizable "Patria Y Libertad" series in this sale, this piece bathed in a soft orange tone and tied at the penultimate grade on the NGC census." Desperate for foreign exchange, Cuba has issued large numbers of NCLT's, many only vaguely related to Cuba. Marti, best known as the author of "Guantanamera", has been adopted as a hero of the Cuban revolution, tho it seems unlikely that he would have much sympathy with the Communists. The bust used here originally appeared on the Cuban gold issues of 1915-16, minted in Philadelphia. It was struck 1988-90 along with a 25 and 100 pesos.

Recorded mintage: 150 plus 15 proofs.

Specification: 15.55 g, 0.999 fine gold, 0.500 troy oz AGW.

Catalog reference: Fr-21, KM 214, Aledon-312.

Source:

• Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2024 January 16 - 18 NYINC World Coins Signature Auction #3114, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2023.

Link to:

• 1988 50 pesos, March to Victory
• 1988 50 pesos, Che Guevara
• 1988 50 pesos, Triumph of the Revolution
• 1988 50 pesos, José Martí, ½ oz gold
• 1989 50 centavos, "visitor's coinage"
• 1989 "star" peso
• 1989 10 pesos, 200th anniversary of the French Revolution
• 1989 10 pesos, 200th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille
• 1989 10 pesos, discovery of America
• 1989 10 pesos, José Martí, 1/10 oz gold
• 1989 15 pesos, José Martí, ⅛ oz gold
• 1989 20 pesos, triumph of the revolution
• 1989 20 pesos, Che Guevara
• 1989 20 pesos, march to victory
• 1989 50 pesos, 160th anniversary of the railway from Liverpool to Manchester
• 1989 50 pesos, 150th anniversary of the first Cuban railway
• 1989 50 pesos, 140th anniversary of the first Spanish railway
• 1989 50 pesos, Tania la Guerrillera
• 1989 50 pesos, Camilo Cienfuegos
• 1989 50 pesos, 35th anniversary of the assault on the Moncada Garrison
• 1989 100 pesos, José Martí
• 1989 100 pesos, 200th anniversary of French liberty
• 1989 100 pesos, 200th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille
• 1989 100 pesos, 160th anniversary of the railway from Liverpool to Manchester
• 1989 100 pesos, 150th anniversary of the first Cuban railway
• 1989 100 pesos, 140th anniversary of the first Spanish railway
• 1989 100 pesos, Tania La Guerrillera
• 1989 100 pesos, Camilo Cienfuegos
• 1989 100 pesos, 35th anniversary of the assault on the Moncada Garrison
• 1989 100 pesos, 30th anniversary of the revolution
• 1989 100 pesos, 30th anniversary of the revolution, Marti and Castro
• 1989 100 pesos, 30th anniversary of the revolution, Castro
• 1990 50 pesos, Bolivar
• 1990 50 pesos, Columbus gold
• 1990 50 pesos, Ferdinand of Aragon gold
• 1990 50 pesos, Isabel of Castile gold
• 1990 50 pesos, Juan de la Cosa gold
• 1990 50 pesos, Volleyball
• 1990 50 pesos, High Jump
• 1990 50 pesos, Baseball
• Coins and currency dated 1989