Cuba 10-CENTAVOS (KM415.2a)¶
-
Obverse HUMMINGBIRD
-
Reverse Denomination
- Composition
- Stainless Steel
- Country
- Cuba
- Approx. Size
- 22mm
- Area
- Caribbean
- Animal Class
- Birds
- Species
- Hummingbird
- KM#
- 415
There are several species of hummingbird in Cuba and it is uncertain which one is represented on this coin. Possibly, it is the Bee Hummingbird, which is the smallest bird in the world and unique to Cuba. The male Bee Hummingbird weighs less than 2 grams. This small coin weighs 4 grams.
Cuba¶
- Area
- Caribbean
Cuba was ruled by Spain until 1898. Spain didn't seem to want to give it up, even though the Cubans fought them for a decade on the issue (1868-78). The fighting started again in 1895 but this time Cuba had the help of the United States, who must have been feeling for them. Independence was finally achieved in 1902. Batista siezed Cuba in 1952, with himself as dictator, of course. Other Cubans didn't like that, and Fidel Castro eventually stormed out of the jungle and took over in 1959. In 1962, Castro formalized a communist-type government. The United States got pretty upset over the whole thing, and proceeded to cause Cuba economic grief that they can't seem to give up on.
