Cuba 1-PESO (KM55)¶
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Reverse: CUBAN CROCODILE
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Obverse: Coat of Arms
- Composition
- Copper-nickel
- Country
- Cuba
- Approx. Size
- 30mm
- Area
- Caribbean
- Animal Class
- Reptiles
- Species
- Cuban Crocodile
- KM#
- 55
The Cuban Crocodile is a smallish species of crocodile found only in two swamps in Cuba. I do not believe this coin actually circulates in Cuba, except perhaps amongst tourists.
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.
