Cuba 10 Pesos Foreign Exchange Certificate 1985 Series B Pick FX8 UNC Banknote
The Cuba 10 Pesos 1985 Series B Pick FX8 is not a conventional circulation banknote but a Foreign Exchange Certificate issued by the Banco Nacional de Cuba.
These certificates formed part of Cuba’s controlled foreign-exchange system and were issued in several lettered series. The 1985 Series B comprised the 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Pesos denominations, catalogued as Pick FX6 through FX10. Banknote
The 10 Pesos is catalogued specifically as Pick FX8. Although collectors normally refer to it as a 1985 issue, the certificate itself is undated (ND). Numista
Presented in UNC (Uncirculated) condition, it is an unusual piece of Cuban monetary history and particularly interesting for collectors of Cold War-era and foreign-exchange currency.
Historical Background
Cuba’s Foreign Exchange Certificates were separate from the ordinary Cuban Peso and formed part of a monetary system designed to handle transactions involving foreign currency.
Rather than using the portraits of revolutionary figures commonly found on regular Cuban banknotes, the 1985 certificates adopted a distinctive architectural theme centred on historic Cuban fortifications.
Two principal 1985 groups were issued:
- Series A: Pick FX1–FX5
- Series B: Pick FX6–FX10 Banknote
Both used fortresses as their principal reverse subjects, but their colour schemes and series identification differed.
Technical Specifications
- Country: Cuba
- Denomination: 10 Pesos
- Year: ND (1985)
- Pick Number: P-FX8
- Series: B
- Condition: Uncirculated (UNC)
- Type: Foreign Exchange Certificate
- Issuer: Banco Nacional de Cuba
- Material: Paper
- Colour Scheme: Light green and brown
- Reverse: Castillo de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Jagua
- Series Theme: Fortresses of Cuba Banknote
Obverse
The obverse features:
- Coat of Arms of Cuba
- Large 10 Pesos denomination
- Banco Nacional de Cuba inscriptions
- Series B identification
- Serial number
- Detailed geometric patterns
- Light green and brown security underprint
One of the easiest ways to distinguish the Series B certificates from Series A is their colour treatment. On the Series B FX8, the coat of arms is rendered in dark green, while the background uses a light-green and brown underprint. Real Banknotes
Reverse
The reverse depicts:
- Castillo de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles de Jagua
- 10 Pesos denomination
- Banco Nacional de Cuba inscriptions
- Detailed ornamental framework
The Jagua Castle is an 18th-century Spanish colonial fortress situated at the entrance to the Bay of Cienfuegos. It was constructed to defend the strategically important harbour from pirates and foreign naval attacks.
The same fortress also appears on the corresponding Series A 10 Pesos Pick FX4, making FX4 and FX8 an interesting pair for collectors comparing the two 1985 certificate series. Real Banknotes
Why Add This Banknote to Your Collection?
The Cuba 10 Pesos 1985 Series B Pick FX8 UNC certificate is considerably different from a standard Cuban banknote. Its purpose as a foreign-exchange certificate reflects Cuba’s unusual monetary system during the Cold War era.
It is particularly suitable for collectors of Cuban currency, foreign exchange certificates, Cold War money, Caribbean banknotes, fortress-themed currency and unusual monetary systems.
Collector’s Note
The most important cataloguing detail is that this note should technically be described as ND (1985) rather than simply dated 1985. The certificate itself carries no printed year, but specialist catalogues attribute the Series B issue to 1985. Numista
The complete Series B set consists of:
1 Peso – FX6
5 Pesos – FX7
10 Pesos – FX8
20 Pesos – FX9
50 Pesos – FX10 Banknote
Your 10 Pesos FX8 is therefore the middle denomination of the five-note Series B set.
It is also worth keeping “Foreign Exchange Certificate” in the UNCNOTE product title. Calling it simply a “Cuba 10 Pesos banknote” would lose one of the most important characteristics of the item and could cause it to be confused with Cuba’s ordinary Peso issues.
