20 Centavos Pattern

1870 year


Copper	4.74 g	24 mm

Description

Issuer	Cuba
Type	Pattern
Year	1870
Value	20 Centavos (0.20)
Currency	Pre-Republic (1870-1898)
Composition	Copper
Weight	4.74 g
Diameter	24 mm
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Orientation	Coin alignment ↑↓
Demonetized	1870
Updated	2024-10-04

References

Numista	N#121996
Rarity index	95%

Reverse

Face value at center with 5 pointed star below, wreath on sides, circular legend on top, mint house or engraver initials on sides, date on excergue.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
MONEDA PROVISIONAL
20
CENTS.
• P • C. T.
1870

Translation:
Provisional coin
20 Cents.
P C. T.
1870

Edge

Reeded

Comment

This coin was ordered to mint by the Junta Central Republicana de Cuba y Puerto Rico at New York, representing the insurgents in Cuba who revolted in 1868, but there is nearly no documentation about it.

Is interesting to see that the coat of arms is very similar to the modern one, but with some differences.

It shows 2 flags on each side, while the newer one shows a wreath, also the pole where is placed the Phrygian cap is now replaced by a pack of poles. Also the key on upper section that represents Cuba between Yucatan and Florida is too big and touches both land points; but the most significant detail is that has a coconut tree instead of a royal palm (royal palm is the national tree of Cuba, and is not a coconut tree).

Letter "P" maybe mint house letter referring to Providence or Philadelphia in the US (where 1897 & 1898 coins were minted), some sources mention Potosi or La Paz, at Bolivia, but there is not a documentation backing this, also is noticeable Bolivian mints used monograms ("PTS", "PZ") as mintmarks; and "C. T." possibly are the engraver initials, but there is no documentation about.

Never were minted definitive coins from this pattern series, but is very possible the discrepancies would be corrected.

(es) La acuñación de esta moneda fue encargada por la Junta Central Revolucionaria de Cuba y Puerto Rico en Nueva York, en representación de los insurgentes en cuba que se levantaron en 1868, pero hay muy escasa documentación sobre el tema.

Es interesante ver que el escudo es muy similar al actual, pero con algunas diferencias.

Tiene dos banderas a cada lado, mientras que el actual tiene corona de laurel; también la pica que sostiene el Gorro Frigio, actualmente es un haz. Por otra parte la llave que representa a Cuba entre Florida y Yucatán es muy grande y toca la tierra de ambas penínsulas: pero la mayor diferencia seguramente es que se ha puesto un cocotero en lugar de la Palma Real del escudo actual (la Palma Real es el árbol nacional de Cuba, parecida a un cocotero, pero no lo es).

La letra "P" posiblemente es la identificación de la ceca, seguramente Providence o Filadelfia (Philadelphia en inglés), de Estados Unidos (donde luego fueron acuñadas las monedas revolucionarias de 1897 y 1898); algunas fuentes mencionan Potosí o La Paz en Bolivia, pero no hay documentacion que lo respalde; también es de notar que tanto la ceca de Potosí como la de La Paz usaban monogramas para identificar sus acuñaciones ("PTS" y "PZ"). Las letras "C. T." posiblemente correspondan al grabador, pero no se conoce documentación .

Nunca fueron acuñadas monedas definitivas, pero es muy posible que las discrepancias hubieran sido corregidas.

Interesting fact

The Pattern 20 Centavos coin from Cuba, made of Copper in 1870, has an interesting fact that it was minted during a time of economic and political change in Cuba. The country was transitioning from a Spanish colony to an independent nation, and this coin was minted during that transition period. It's a unique piece of history that reflects the country's journey towards independence.

Price

Date	Mintage	VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC
1870	40	-	-	-	-	-	-

Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for 20 Centavos (Pattern) 1870 coin.