1 Peso La Fuerza - Havana

1984 year


Copper-nickel	11.3 g	29.9 mm

Description

Issuer	Cuba
Period	Second Republic (1959-date)
Type	Non-circulating coin
Year	1984
Value	1 Peso (1&nbspCUP)
Currency	Cuban Peso (moneda nacional, 1914-date)
Composition	Copper-nickel
Weight	11.3 g
Diameter	29.9 mm
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Orientation	Coin alignment ↑↓
Demonetized	1984
Updated	2024-10-04

References

Numista	N#5121
Rarity index	65%

Reverse

Image of castle "La Fuerza" at Havana, event name as curved legend on top, place name as curved legend on bottom, date above image.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
CASTILLOS DE CUBA
1984
LA FUERZA - LA HABANA

Translation:
Cuban Castles
1984
La Fuerza - Havana

Designer: Jorge Fornés Ramos

Edge

Plain

Comment

"La Fuerza" castle, which complete name is Castillo de la Real Fuerza (Castle of the Royalk Strenght) is a military building, placed Plaza de Armas (Weapon's Square), in the historical downtown at Havana.

On the tower is placed "La Giraldilla", is a weather vane, showing a female figure, with a palm on right hand (currently only the branch, top part got lost), and a Calatrava cross on left hand.

Tradition says it represents to Elizabeth of Bobadilla, wife Hernando de Soto, who was named Governor of Cuba on March 20th., 1937. On May 12th, 1539, de Soto departed commanding a fleet of 9 vessels, and delegated the title on his wife. She spent many hours every day watching from the highest point of the castle searching for the vessel that carried her husband back. He never returned, as died on Mississippi shore on Jun 30th., 1540, but Elizabeth kept waiting for him.

Martín Pinzón got inspired by the story, and created this statue. Later, the Governor Juan de Bitrián y Viamontes, ordered to make it on bronze and place on top of the main tower, about 1630/1634.