October 2012 - Cuban Numismatic Association
Transcripción
October 2012 - Cuban Numismatic Association
CUBAN NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER 4-12 IS A 501(c) 3 ORGANIZATION (see newsletter 2-07) OCTOBER 2012 WWW.CUBANUMIS.COM Frank Putrow (04) – President Rudy Valentin (09) – Vice President Editor – Frank Putrow Richard Schemitsch (11) – Secretary [email protected] Robert Freeman (04) – Treasurer Board of Directors – Joseph Algazi (11), Richard Becker (04), Jesus Inguanzo (08), Stan Klein (04), Emilio M. Ortiz (04). Parliamentarian – Larry Casey. Chairman Communications Committee – Stan Klein. Chairman Nomination Committee – Vacant. Chairman Finance Committee - Emilio M. Ortiz. Associate Director/Research – Enrique Cayado Cuban Numismatic Association is a member of: Florida United Numismatists (FUN) #19059 – www.funtopic.com American Numismatic Association (ANA) #C213521 – www.money.org American Numismatic Society (ANS) #11455 – www.numismatics.org Latin American Paper Money Society (LANSA) #1481 – www.lansa.bz NEWSLETTER INDEX Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page 2 3 4 4 5 9 11 12 15 19 22 CNA 9th Annual Meeting at FUN – Orlando, FL. – Sat, January 12, 2013 – 1:00pm MEMBER PROFILE QUIZ. Answer on page 10 Counterfeit Cuba 1937 ABC Peso Cuba’s Capones 1629 Treasure of Matanzas Relic FROM THE KITCHEN CNA NEWSLETTER ARTICLE INDEX. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. WANT ADS. AUCTION RESULTS 1 A VERY SPECIAL HOLIDAY GREETING TO OUR FRIENDS AND MEMBERS. OUR ERNEST HOPE IS THAT THE NEW YEAR WILL HARBOR THE WORLD IN FREEDOM, RESPECT, PEACE, AND PROSPERITY. A VERY BLESSED CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR WISH FROM THE CNA and IT’S OFFICERS. FOR OUR SPANISH SPEAKING MEMBERS AND FRIENDS. SALUDOS SOCIOS Y AMIGOS NUMISMATICOS Bienvenidos a nuestra Asociación Numismática Cubana. Esta es nuestra primera comunicación en el idioma Español para beneficio de nuestros visitantes y socios de habla hispana, y aquellos de habla inglesa que deseen practicar su español. Nuestra Asociación esta formada por numismáticos de todas partes del mundo que tienen el interés común de estudiar, coleccionar, y compartir conocimientos y amistad con otros sobre la Numismática de la Isla de Cuba. La asociación está afiliada con American Numismatic Association (ANA), American Numismatic Society (ANS), Latin American Paper Money Society (LANSA) y Florida United Numismatists (FUN). Somos una entidad sin fines de lucro y totalmente apolítica, fundada el 9 de Enero de 2004. uestros objetivo es el estudio de monedas, billetes, fichas, medallas, bonos, fichas de casino, documentos y, en general, todo lo referente a la Numismática de Cuba. Nos reunimos anualmente durante la convención de invierno de Florida Numismatic Association (FUN), usualmente en Orlando, Florida. La cuota anual de membresía regular es solamente $ 10.00 US. El propósito de esta comunicación en español es invitar a todos los numismáticos de habla hispana a comunicarse con nosotros, si así lo desean y prefieren, en este idioma. También queremos explorar opiniones de los socios sobre comunicaciones en español. Por favor envíen sus ideas, preguntas y comentarios a Frank Putrow, (Presidente) [email protected] o al que suscribe, Rudy Valentín, (V.P.) [email protected] (Nota: El nombre legal de nuestra Asociación es “Cuban Numismatic Association”, somos una Asociación legalmente constituida el los E.U.A. y no estamos afiliados a ninguna entidad de ningún otro país cuyo nombre en español pueda ser similar.) PLAN NOW TO ATTEND THE 9th ANNUAL CNA MEETING, HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FLORIDA UNITED NUMISMATISTS (FUN) COIN SHOW HELD IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA AT THE ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER COIN SHOW – JANUARY 10-13, 2013. ANNUAL CNA MEETING – SATURDAY AFTERNOON, JANUARY 12th at 1:00pm. The room number will be provided later. Your CNA will have a table (number provided later) in the bourse, manned by volunteers. Various items will be available at the table, and the Cuban Type Set Books will be available for sale. Stop by and say “HELLO”. 2 Members are encouraged to consider nomination for the following position that is up for re-election: Director. If you are interested, please contact Frank Putrow at 7275317337 or [email protected], and he will provide you with the job responsibilities, or put you in contact with an incumbent. ANY organization needs fresh leadership to grow and prosper, and Officers and Directors tend to lose some energy after too many years in office. Please consider this opportunity to become a Director of your CNA. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor during the General meeting. The meeting agenda will include elections, old and new business, door prizes, and an auction of articles brought by attendees. IF a member, who will not attend the meeting, is interested in placing article(s) in the auction, please contact Frank Putrow NLT 12-26-12. Door prizes are broken down in two categories: (1) single tickets given at no charge to attendees, who could win up to five door prizes, and (2) 50/50 tickets sold for $1 ea. or 6 for $5. The 50/50 ticket holders could win any of five prizes, and 50% of the tickets sold. THIS YEAR, CNA MEMBERS WHO WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE 50/50 DRAWING. Any member interested in participating may purchase 50/50 tickets in advance. Checks, made out to Cuban Numismatic Assn., may be sent to Frank Putrow (2175 Oak Grove Dr., Clearwater, FL. 33764) or Paypal ([email protected]) - add $1 to cover Paypal fees. Frank will act on your behalf, and provide you the drawing results. Prizes will be mailed to winners. The FUN lists seven hotels within walking distance: 1. The Hilton Orlando. Rate is $139. 2. The Peabody Orlando. Rate is $204. 3. The Rosen Centre. Rate is $114. 10 minute walk. 4. The Rosen Plaza. Rate is $109. 10-12 minute walk. 5. The Hampton Inn – Orlando Convention Center. Rate is $109. 15 minute walk. 6. The Rosen Inn Point Orlando. Rate is $65. On-line reservations can be made at www.FunTopics.com, or call 800 2826632. 8:30am to 5:30pm. Email: [email protected] PLEASE NOTE THAT FUN WILL NOT PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF THE HOTELS. Member Profile Since the membership of CNA is so diverse, and separated geographically, it may be feasibly impossible for our members to meet and get to know one another. This section will highlight a member, or members, in each newsletter, providing a brief background of the person(s), so the membership may know a little about the person(s). It will be 100% voluntary. The officers and board members were first to provide their background, followed by the charter members, then the regular members. The CNA is privileged is have members of various ethnic, economic, political, and educational backgrounds. Among the mix are: business executives, lawyers, medical doctors, and PhD’s in religion, education, science, and government. The core of the CNA remains the “average” person, 3 with numismatic interests, but it is interesting to know that such a variety of collectors are on our membership rolls, such as: Rudy Valentin, Current CNA Vice-President. Reprinted from CAN newsletter #2-07 (April 2007) Rudy was educated at LaSalle University, Chicago, and at Puerto Rico University. He is a veteran of the US Coast Guard, and served in various responsibilities in the US Navy, Air Force and the Space Center in Houston, Texas. His business experience was executive management in various multi-national distribution and export companies, as well as his own company. He began collecting coins in 1944, and became a serious numismatist in 1963. He collected Spain, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Caribbean Antilles, Mexico, and the United States. He has done much research and writing on these subjects, and still plans to complete his research on the “Mini Coins of the World”. His writings include various articles in the ANA Numismatist, the Cuban Numismatist Association Quarterly newsletter, and Numiexpo Digest. He has also spoken on numismatics at schools, clubs, Rotary International, and media talk shows. Currently a dealer, he is a member of the ANA, Puerto Rico Numismatic Society, Los Reales Numismatic Fellowship, and was a member of the now defunct Cuban Numismatic Society in Exile. He is also a member of FUN, LANSA, Clearwater (FL) Coin Club, and the Tampa Bay (FL) Coin Club. He has put together extensive collections of Cuban coins, medals, paper money, tokens, and documents. His other collections were a combination of Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico rarities, as well as a complete US dollar type set. Quiz Question? Can it be expensive to collect Cuban Casino chips? Answer on page 10. Cuba 1937 Peso Counterfeit Side by side, little difference is evident between the altered date 1937 Cuban peso, top left, and an unaltered genuine piece, top right. Close-up images tell the story. On the altered date, bottom left, the numeral 7 was added, and the 7 and 3 are further apart than on the genuine date, bottom right. The width of the upright and crossbar of the added 7 is uniform throughout on the altered coin, and color and texture are different from other digits in the date. An altered 1937 Cuban peso genuine piece a scarce issue, by Michael Fahey | Aug. 02, 2012 7:59 a.m. Article first published in 2012-08-13, Expert Advice section of Coin World 4 ANACS recently had the opportunity to inspect two examples of the Cuban 1937 peso. The first coin was in typical condition for this issue — lightly worn and mishandled. The second example had an odd look to it, and after a few minutes of research it became obvious why it looked ―funny.‖ The last digit had been removed from a genuine peso, and a fake 7 had been carefully added to a genuine peso of a different date. On a genuine 1937 peso, the 7 in the date has a specific shape. Both the crossbar and the upright of the 7 flare out — the left end of the crossbar and the bottom of the upright are wider than the upper right portion of the digit. Also, there is very little space between the 3 and the 7 in the date. When you compare this description to the fake 7, the alteration is easy to spot. The width of the upright and crossbar of the added 7 is uniform throughout, and there is much more space between the 3 and the 7 on the fake coin. Under strong magnification, the color and texture of the added 7 appears to be different than the other digits in the date, but the average collector armed only with a loupe will not be able to spot this diagnostic. As is often the case in numismatics, when there is a profit motive, counterfeiters and alteration experts will take advantage. In this case, changing a $50 coin to a $1,000 coin with a simple date alteration is certainly worth their time and effort. As collectors, we need to be aware of situations like this one, and arm ourselves accordingly to avoid being burned. BUYER BEWARE!! CUBA’S CAPONES The #3-12 (July 2012) CNA Newsletter contained a similar article about the mob influence in Cuba’s casinos. Reprinted from Cuban Information Archives: Document 0190. Published in 1960 HAVANA went berserk on New Year's Day, 1959. Wild-eyed young men and women erupted from their homes into the streets. Students poured out of the campuses. Instead of recuperating quietly from the revels of New Year's Eve, Havanans flocked outdoors in droves. They cheered, they whistled, they danced in the streets when they heard that Batista, his family and cohorts had fled the country by plane at about two a.m. The people surged toward downtown Havana. They carried Cuban flags and sang the national anthem. Car caravans bedecked with flags, the horns blowing, inched through the marchers. In downtown Havana, the crowds reached a peak of excitement, then raced for the luxury hotels which housed the biggest gambling casinos. The casinos were prime targets of Castro. They were run by professional gamblers and gangsters from the United States who had paid the Batista regime huge sums for the privilege. Batista's brother-in-law controlled all 10,000 slot machines in Cuba, which contributed million to the regime's bank account. The slot machines, symbols of the ousted leader, were especially sought out by the mobs. Most of the demonstrators had never been able to afford the high-priced pleasures of the multi-million-dollar hotels. Now they didn't hesitate. With a roar they shoved their way into the air-conditioned, deeply carpeted hotel lobbies and made for the casinos. The demonstrators were not there to place bets, but to wipe out the citadels of the corrupt and privileged classes. In the huge lobbies of the hotels, they finally found the doors to the casinos–and found them closed. 5 Rifle butts, clubs and lobby furniture pounded against the solid doors until the bars and locks gave way. Inside they found roulette tables, dice tables and card tables, and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gambling equipment in each casino. There were fancy bars with every kind of liquor available. On the floors were deep-pile carpets and overhead sparkled costly chandeliers. With howls of revenge, the mob set to work destroying the playthings of the rich. The slot machines were overturned and bashed into twisted hulks of metal. The roulette wheels and tables were broken into more parts than they had numbers. The military and the police had wisely stayed in their barracks. The officers knew that their men would encourage and perhaps join the mobs. There was nothing and no one to prevent the crowds from taking the casinos apart from wall to wall. They did. Nothing was left usable or in one piece. By the end of New Year's Day, there wasn't even a matched pair of dice left in the casinos of Havana. Fidel Castro had always hated gambling. He viewed it as a criminal waste of the nation's financial resources and, as during the heyday of Batista, as an invitation to governmental graft and corruption. When Castro finally gained power in Cuba, he abolished gambling in his first batch of decrees. Then he learned the facts of government life–it was a losing bet to attempt running the country without the gambling revenue. Without the spinning wheel and the click of the bones, tourists would go elsewhere. Thus, he legalized it again, just as the others before him had, but he added a new twist. The gambling is run under strict supervision of the government, and Castro has promised that any official found dipping his hand into the till will be punished most severely. None has been caught yet. Two types of gambling predominated in the days before Castro. Both held opportunities for graft. There were the games of chances played in casinos, and the lottery run by the state. The plush casinos and gambling houses in Cuba during the era of Batista were run by some of the Syndicate boys from the United States, the ones who had been smart or lucky enough to escape death as gangsters during the Capone years in Chicago. The Syndicate boys were the only ones who knew enough to run the casinos at a profit. They were the best in their business and were considered respectable businessmen in Havana. Instead of using guns for protection, they paid government officials for the right to operate without trouble. It cost fantastic sums to operate and pay the government officials and taxes and still come out with a profit, but the gangsters had spent a lifetime learning their trade and proved in Cuba that they had graduate with honors. Top dog in the legitimate gambling racket in Cuba was Meyer Lansky, known in the United States as the man whom Senator Kefauver and committee had dubbed as one of the top ten racketeers in this country. Lansky knew all the angles and he was very happy when Batista asked him to come out into the sunlight of respectability and set up the legalized gambling venture in Cuba. Lansky brought to Cuba the cream of the gamblers from Las Vegas, Reno, and New York. His right-hand man was his brother Jake, who was installed as floor manager in the Hotel Nacional's casino. Then there was Santo (Louis Santos) Trafficante from Florida, the Einstein of the numbers game. Trafficante was given a full interest in the casino of the Sans Souci Hotel, with other big slices of the gambling pies in the Comodoro and Capri Hotels. Joseph (Joe Rivers) Silesi managed the business for Trafficante. Actor George Raft also bought a piece of the Capri. There were others, too, floating around in the thick, rich gambling gravy of Cuba. Fat the 6 Butch from New York's Westchester County presided over the dice tables in the Capri. Thomas Jefferson McGinty of Cleveland's underworld brought his special talents to the Nacional Hotel. "Honesty is the best policy" was the slogan of these hoods in Cuba. They had learned that more money is made faster when their enterprises had good public relations. They donned conservative, made-to-order suits, white shirts and ties, and cleaned up their grammar. With government charters, there was no need for gangland slayings a la Capone to bump off the opposition – because there was no opposition. The tourists and well-heeled Cuban customers in the casinos had no need to worry about loaded dice, stacked decks or a fixed roulette wheel. The theory of mathematical probability and the laws of chance assured the house of winning. So the racketeers kept it clean...to the point of hustling out of their fancy dens any slick operators who wanted to fleece the customers with unchartered methods. When word of this reached the United States via Madison Avenue, the gambling boom was on in Cuba. When the American tourist reached Havana after a five-hour flight from New York, he had a choice of about five multi-million-dollar swank hotels. There were also numerous nightclubs in Havana which had facilities for gambling. All were million-dollar-plus establishment – Batista had changed the gambling laws in 1955 to allow gambling rooms in any club or hotel worth a million. His government also helped finance the buildings and put up millions to help with construction. Import duties were waived on materials for hotel construction and Cuban contractors with the right "in" made windfalls by importing much more than was needed and selling the surplus to others for hefty profits. These schemes were what had aroused the wrath of Castro and the citizens of Cuba. They saw their government giving money with little return expected; what should have been returned to the government coffers with interest went to line the pockets of corrupt officials. The government was to get $25,000 for license plus twenty percent of the profits from each casino. What Batista and the "in group" got has never been certified. It was rumored that to get a license a fee for $250,000 and sometimes more was required under the table. Periodic payoffs were requested and received by the corrupt politicians. The slot machines in Cuba, even the ones which dispensed small prizes for children at country fairs, were the province of Roberto Fernandez y Miranda, Army general, government sports director and Batista's brother-in-law, Roberto, was also given the parking meters in Havana as a little something extra. Parking meters didn't fare too well when the rebels first came to town. Cubans had never been trained for gambling operations on such a large scale, so pit bosses, dealers and stickmen were brought from the United States as "technicians," and in that category were allowed to stay on two-years visas. These men, veterans of the "working class" of illicit U.S. gambling, eventually turned into "teachers" for the Cubans. Their teaching certificates are on record in police blotters, courts and prisons throughout this country. Now that Castro allows only Cubans to act as croupiers, the Americans stand by and tell the "students" what to do. Someday soon, Cuba will have its own sizable working class of gamblers. The second major type of gambling in Cuba was the national lottery which had been started 7 sometime in the dim past and reached its finest flower under Batista. The drawings in the lottery had been only once a week, but under Batista they were increased to a daily institution. Every night, all Cuba stopped activity at 9:30 to listen to the radio, which punctually listed the winning numbers. Government printing offices were kept busy printing the tickets and astrologers and swamis flourished in picking lucky numbers for their superstitious clients. Unofficial lotteries, called bolitas, were also encouraged by Batista. These tickets carried the same numbers as the official ones and paid off on the officially drawn numbers. The police forces in Cuba, with moral codes which would shock the most corrupt cop in the U.S., shook down the bolita operators for as much as they could get. It increased their incomes tremendously, which created great loyalty to Batista. On the margin of Cuban gambling activity were the bloody afternoon cockfights, the nightly jai-alai contests, and the horse-racing tracks. The tracks allowed many more betting combinations than those in the United States, including a Cuban form of numbers betting, different daily doubles and parlays. If this confused the tourist, he could always duck into the casinos at the tracks for more familiar types of betting. This many-tentacled gambling octopus was what confronted Fidel Castro on his assumption of power. His strict moral sense condemned it all and, true to his pledge, he abolished it with a proclamation. Then his troubles began. There in the heart of Havana, towering over the shores of the Caribbean, reflecting the sun and moonlight in the clear air, stood millions upon millions of dollars of brick and glass enclosing sumptuously decorated rooms and ball-rooms – all empty. With no gambling there were no tourists. The reports of the turmoil in Cuba had made many exchange their plane tickets for Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and other nearby vacation areas. Others went to Las Vegas where the wheels still turned and the dice rolled merrily. So Fidel Castro made an about-face, issued another proclamation, and bingo, gambling came back to Cuba. The little ball whirled around the roulette wheel again and the cards were reshuffled. The government hired advertising agencies to tell the glad tidings in newspapers and magazines. They issued pamphlets and brochures to be distributed to customers by travel agencies. The tourists returned. When they again walked into the casino they saw many new faces, many old ones. The big-shot gangsters had been sent packing and agents of the government ran the show. It wasn't as good a show as previously, but the tourist could still win a little and lose a lot. As tourist activity stepped up, so did Castro's accusations against the United States. Communism reared its red head. Turmoil didn't abate. Scare headlines topped the front pages of American newspapers. Again, the flow of tourists dried to less than a trickle. It is estimated now that tourists are down to ten percent of their former numbers. What turn gambling will take in Cuba under Castro is unknown now. Cubans have always distrusted a government connected with gambling. They have seen dictators and revolutionary strongmen come and go, and when they have gone, the money has gone also. Even the change of the lotteries into "investment plans," in which tickets are bonds payable in five years as well as on weekly winning numbers, with the money used to build roads and public housing, has not reassured Cuban observers. If Castro continues legalized gambling, government corruption and the old-line criminals are expected by many to creep back in. 8 If Castro again abolishes gambling, the government investment of millions in hotels and nightclubs and casinos will be lost as will the tourists. For Castro, it's a losing bet either way. NOTE: Most Americans are aware of the current status of gambling in Cuba in 2012. Plush hotels have been built with foreign investment of many Western countries, with the exception of USA. Tourism is brisk, in spite of the lack of visitors of the USA, and in spite that gambling is essentially non-existent. However, many predict that Cuba will soon allow gambling in the plush hotels. Perhaps in the next 10 years? We’ll have to wait and see! 1629 Treasure of Matanzas Relic Silver Relic Medal (item #11117) OFFERED at STACKS BOWERS #140- AUGUST 2012 Philadelphia ANA Auction. RESERVE PRICE WAS $8,630. NOT SOLD Obverse: fleet of numerous ships with legend around. Reverse: Latin legend on 13 lines. Light reflectivity and luster remain on light silver gray surfaces, yielding hidden gold tones in the intricacies. Another type struck from the captured Spanish silver from Piet Heyn's victory at Matanzas, Betts-29 has the distinction of actually stating the origin of the silver it contains in its legends. In translation from the Latin: "The fleet of the Indies being cut off, and very rich booty taken without bloodshed, at the Bay of Cuba, now more celebrated by the loss of the Spaniards than formerly by their defeat, the chiefs of the United Provinces of the Netherlands have caused this medal to be struck from the captured silver, 1629." The obverse shows the fleet's capture in an interesting and detailed perspective. We note a thin old scratch near the obverse rim from 10:00 to 11:00. This medal is perhaps even rarer than Betts-23. Ex: Great Medina Collection; Al Almanzar, May 11, 1972; our (Stack's) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part XIII, January 2006, lot 681; and our (Stack's) Philadelphia Americana Sale, September 2009, lot 6015. 9 THE CUBAN NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA 1ST REPUBLIC 1915-1958 TYPE SET BOOK. The book is 8 1/2” X 11 ½”, weighs 17 oz. and includes a booklet about the brief history of Cuban Numismatics. The book was designed for those “TYPE SET” collectors, who are not interested in collecting all the coins that make up the Cuban mintages. The book was designed for those “TYPE SET” collectors, who are not interested in collecting all the coins that make up the Cuban mintages. The book is now available for purchase. Paid up CNA members may order a maximum of two for $14 each, which includes Florida sales tax (where applicable), and S&H. International, excluding Canada – add $5for additional mailing costs. Non-CNA members cost is $17 each. For ordering information, visit www.cubanumis.com or contact Frank Putrow at [email protected] or 727 5317337. ONLY 31 BOOKS ARE LEFT. NO CURRENT PLANS TO REPRINT. Answer to QUIZ: Are Cuban Casino chips expensive to collect? See the answer regarding the two chips below: Habana – Madrid Casino green and red chips. Both listed on eBay for $499.00 each. 10 1898 20 Centavo. Listed in Krause Unusual World Coins as X3 M14, under 1898 Contribution Issues. The CNA would appreciate any information regarding this coin. The only reference your editor can locate is by Cyril Trvalec, who says: “I have seen 2 of these for sale in last 15 years or so (even though T. Lismore says in The coinage of Cuba 1870 to Date, that only 2 have been reported. One has been sold at an auction for several thousand at the beginning of 1990’s and other was listed in World Coin News about a year ago (2008) for about 700.00US. Of course, it was gone by the time I called”. FROM THE KITCHEN Pot Roasted Chicken (Pollo asado en Cazuela) 1 Chicken, cut into pieces 1 bay leaf ¼ teaspoon oregano ½ cup dry white wine 2 tablespoons sour orange juice 1 onion 2 tablespoon pure olive oil 2 teaspoons fresh garlic, minced Salt to taste Remove skin and fat from chicken and sprinkle chicken pieces with salt and garlic. In a large pot brown chicken in oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until it begins to brown add juice, wine, remaining garlic, oregano and bay leaf .Add enough water to pot to just cover chicken and cook for 30 minutes until liquid practically disappears and the chicken begins to fry again. Salt to taste. AUN FOR DESSERT! Havana Baked Ice Cream (Helado Tostado) 3 eggs white 1/2 cup of sugar 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar Do this the day before: Fill 4 medium size oven proof molds of any type with your favorite ice cream. Place in freezer to keep from melting. Make a meringue with egg whites, 11 cream of tartar and sugar. Cover ice cream with meringue and return to freezer. Be sure that the ice cream is completely covered with the meringue. Just before serving: Place ice cream cups on cookie sheet and place about 2 to 3 inches under broiler until brown. Serve immediately. CNA NEWS LETTER ARTICLE INDEX ISSUE/PAGE DESCRIPTION 4-06/8 4-07/14 2-10/5 1-04/4 3-06/7 2-07/14 4-07/4 4-07/17 4-11/9 3-04/3 4-07/16 1-04/3 1-12/6 3-11/8 2-07/12 3-08/18 3-09/8 2-12/17 1-10/8 3-11/19 1-12/7 4-11/16 2-08/9 1-09/6 3-05/6 3-12/7 1-12/7 1-09/5 3-12/7 3-05/10 3-05/12 1-11/5 3-11/10 4-05/8 2-11/5 & 3-11/5 1870 Essai 1870 Patterns 1870 Peso “E” Pattern 1876 5 Centavo 1869 1000 Peso Revolutionary Bond 1869 Paper Money Issues of Cuba 1869 5 Peso Error Note 1920 Proofs ABC Peso ABC’s – The story behind the ABC’s ABC Design America’s involvement in Cuba American Half Dimes in Cuba Aquilera, Francisco Vicente Auction Results of Cuban Coins Auction Results of Cuban Coins Auction Results of Cuban Coins and Currency Auction Results of Cuban Coins and Currency Auction Results of Cuban Coins Auction Results of Cuban Coins Auction Results of Cuban Coins Auction Results of Cuban Numismatics Banco Espanol De La Isla De Cuba Banco National De Cuba Barber – Chief Engraver Barber papers Bay of Pigs Counterfeit 20 Peso Bill vs. Receipt Bordello tokens Brand Collection Auction of 1964 Buyer Beware Buying and Selling Coins Carida del Cobre Casino Chips S.S. Central America 12 1-08/9 3-04/2 2-10/4 3-05/2 2-06/11 3-08/12 & 1-09/4 2-10/6 4-12/4 3-12/7 3-12/10 2-04/4 3-05/8 4-08/6 4-11/5 2-04/2 4-05/12 4-06/11 4-11/6 1-05/3 1-04/5 3-12/10 1-04/6 3-12/4 1-04/2 1-08/7 1-06/7 1-10/9 1-05/7 Chronology of the Minting of the First Cuban Coinage Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins Coin Grading Symbols Commemorative Coins Commemorative CNA Coin Counterfeit Coins and Holders Counterfeit Cuba Gold 5 Peso Counterfeit Cuba 1937 ABC Peso Cuban Bordello Tokens Cuban Casinos Downfall Cuban Coin Adventure Cuban Coins – A bit pricey Cuban Coins Host Unusual Native Species Cuban CUP & CUC Cuban Market Cuban Market Cuban Mint Tour Cuban 1905 1, 2, 5 & 10 Peso Currency by Banco Nacional de Cuba Currency – Collecting Cuban Currency Cuban Numismatics – Overview Downfall of Cuban Casinos EBAY – Buying and Selling EBAY- Restrictions on published grade Embargo, as it applies to modern collectibles First Bank Notes of the Cuban Republic First Circulating Currencies First Cuban Coin First Strike of Cuban Coins 2-11/14 4-08/10 1-10/5 1-12/9 2-12/10 3-09/6 3-11/12 4-11/11 3-07/13 4-06/10 3-12/13 4-09/11 2-10/9 4-11/11 4-12/11 4-07/20 FROM THE KITCHEN Arroz and Shrimp Arroz Con Pollo (Yellow Rice and Chicken) Beef Stew (Papas) Caldo Gallego Corn Fritters Cuban Pork Chops with Mango Relish Empanadas (guava) Elena Ruiz Sandwich Flan Flan Cake Fried Plantains Frita (Cuban Hamburger) Garbonzos and Rice Habanero (Eggs) Havana Baked Ice Cream (Helado Tostado) Mojito 13 1-09/10 4-06/10, 1-11/8 & 3-12/15 1-09/9 & 4-11/12 1-10/5 2-10/10 1-09/9 2-08/12 4-12/11 4-08/8 3-11/12 3-08/18 1-08/17 1-07/11 2-07/19 2-07/20 Natilla (Cuban Custard) Paella Palomilla Steak Papas (Cuban Style Beef Stew) Pear Cake Pork Chunks Pork Leg (Stuffed) Pot Roasted Chicken (Pollo asado en cazuela) Pressed Cuban-Style Burger Red Bean Soup Rice Pudding Roast Pork Sautéed Fish and Tropical Salsa with Avocado and Greens Salad Ropa Vieja (Old Rags) with black beans and rice. Tres Leche Cake 1-12/5 1-04/8 2-11/7 3-04/9 3-07/10 2-05/6 3-04/10 4-09/6 3-06/9 1-06/8 4-09/8 2-04/4 2-07/8 3-08/20 2-04/11 4-09/5 4-09/6 3-08/10 1-04/6 2-04/6 1-10/6 4-11/8 2-05/5 4-07/8 1-08/9 2-08/4 3-08/5 2-07/5 3-06/5 Gentleman from Paris Grading Grading Cuban Coins Grading 101 Habana Real Hacienda Seal Keys of Cuba Luster Making of a Coin Folder Medals – Moro Castle (1762) Monetary Conversion after Spanish America War Numismatic Poetry – 1869 Cuba y Puerto Rico Peso Our Man in Cuba Population Report of NGC and PCGS certified Cuban coins. Proof – Proof Like – First Strike Relief – High and Low Republic of Cuba 1st Republic 1915-1958 Type Set Book Republic of Cuba Type Set Book – The Making of it. Sea of Gold and Silver around Cuba Souvenir Peso – 1897 Souvenir Peso – 1897, and 1898 Peso Souvenir (Revolutionary) 1897 Souvenir 1965 Patterns Trafalgar – A Rich Naval history Tokens – Sugar Estates (Section 1) Tokens – Sugar Estates (Section 2) Tokens – Sugar Estates (Section 3) Tokens – Sugar Estates (Section 4) Tokens – Military and Post Exchanges Tokens - Tobacco Plantations 14 3-07/5 2-06/6 4-08/3 2-11/3 2-10/3 Tokens - Transportation Treasurer’s Report Treasurer’s Report Treasurer’s Report Valuable US Coins in Circulation LETTERS TO THE EDITOR NOTE: Responses to Letters to the Editor are provided by CNA members, who volunteer their time, and have a variety of expertise. Some information may by misrepresented or partially incomplete. Although these situations are considered minimal, it may occur. In these situations, the CNA apologizes, but cannot be held responsible. # 1. M.J. sent the following email: Can you tell me anything about a Cuban Gold Commemorative coin, which reads 1856-1857 Congreso Constituyente on the back, and Primer Centenario De La Constitucion De 1857 on the front? EDITOR: Thank you for the email regarding the Gold Commemorative. Actually, it is a Mexican coin. There is not much information on the coin in the reference books, but I think I have discovered what you are looking for. It is gold, .9 in purity. It weighs 41.6666 grams, or 1.2 ounces. They were minted in 1957 to commemorate 1857 Constitution. The Krause World Coin Catalog of World Coins lists the coin in the Medallic Gold Coinage Section, as KM # 122a. It also estimates the value as $2150 in bright uncirculated (BU) condition. I found 2 examples on the internet, with prices from $2000 to $5600. The latter was packaged in 1957 (anniversary) in a beautiful satin box, and was in BU condition. 15 #2. F.D. sent the following email: Hello. I'm glad to have found your web site. My name is Fernando, I started collecting Cuban coins. I have a question about a coin. It's the 1897 souvenir wide date: I thought they all had "PAT" on the base of the young lady. Are there any without the PAT, and what would be the value? Editor: Thank you for the email regarding the 1897 Cuban Souvenir Peso "PAT 97" type 1. As far as the uniqueness of the 1897 "Pat 97", I am only aware of the claim that there are few different versions of the actual placement of the "PAT 97", but all 828 minted have the Pat 97, which is located above the U in SOUVENIR at the bottom of Molina's neck. Types II (Stars below 97 / Close date), and Type III (Stars in line with 97 / Close date) do not have the PAT 97. It was removed because of patent concerns. Please contact me if you have any additional information regarding this issue. F.D: Thanks for the info. I'm more intrigued now. This coin I was asking about is the 1897 wide date cat. #1, but no PAT on the neck of Molina . The seller tells me is genuine. I've bought coins from him before, so I trust him about the price. I'm not sure of the value. Any feedback would be appreciated, since I don't have a good coin catalogue. Editor: I have a bit more info on your inquiry of a 1897 PAT Souvenir Peso. It has been reported that a few were sold by a Chinese dealer, which would automatically turn on the "counterfeit" light. It is also reported that one was eventually graded by PCGS as genuine. That still leaves the question? Was this coin minted in the USA in 1897 by the Dunn Air Brake Company, OR is it a COPY so perfect that it passed PCGS's strict criteria. One possibility is that this coin is one of the 30 coins that was culled as defective and should have been destroyed??? It certainly sounds interesting. Anyone who buys this coin should send it to PCGS in the hope that it would be determined as genuine. If it turns out to be a counterfeit, it is an $800 mistake. One of our fellow CNA members would like to purchase it from you (if bought), or from the dealer if you decide to pass on the purchase. Please let me know what your decision is regarding the purchase of this interesting coin. F.D. It's" GENUINE"! I just got it back from NGC graded at AU 50, Pics are attached. Also I contacted Heritage Auction House. They want pics to arrive at a $ value, if I decide to consign. 16 Current Status: F.D contacted NGC, questioning WHY the description did not note the fact that the PAT was missing; at least identify the coin as an “ERROR”. NGC advised F.D. that their policy is to only identify obvious errors. Since this coin is not identified in any reference catalog, it has the correct description. Does this make sense?? F.D. may place this coin in a forthcoming Heritage auction. #3. H.P. sent the following email: I was lucky enough to buy 2 gold 1915 proof 5 peso coins. Both are NGC Proof 63. I also bought a 1916 1 pesos gold proof NGC Proof 64. I bought several Krause books and other books, but I CANNOT find the mintage for the Cuba proof gold 1915 5 pesos or the 1915 gold proof 10 pesos coin. I got outbid on the 10 dollar gold pesos at $21,000, but bought both 1915 proof 5 pesos gold. Could you give me your opinion how many proofs were minted for the 1915 Cuban gold 5 pesos and 1915 Cuban gold 10 pesos? Editor: I have requested this info from respected Cuban collectors, but there seems to be no positive answer to your inquiry. Krause’s World Coin Catalog lists the quantities of the 1, 2 & 4 Proof 1915/16 gold pesos, but not the 5, 10 & 20 Proofs. Most collectors agree that the Krause numbers are in the ballpark. The info that I have received from collectors is that the 5and 10 Proof 1915/16 gold pesos number in the area of 25 to 50. The 1915 20 gold Proof peso is probably closer to 25. Collectors are confident that the 1916 20 gold Proof peso number is 10. In any case, all the Proofs are in demand and are very costly. #4. Rod. sent the following email: Hola: Buscando por internet monedas de Cuba he llegado hasta su página. Soy un español casado con una cubana. Cada año pasamos unos dias de vacaciones por Sancti Spiritus. Y yo siempre he intentado conseguir alguna moneda de oro de Cuba. No he logrado conseguir ninguna. Primero porque segun me dicen hay pocas y segundo porque cuando ha aparecido alguna el precio ha sido elevado. Como puedo saber las acuñaciones que se hicieron de las monedas de oro de Jose Marti de los años 1915 y 1916? Habia de 1,2,4,5,10 y 20 pesos. Tambien quisiera saber si es posible cuales son las mas buscadas y de que año. Muchas gracias. Editors translation (as poor as it is) Hello: Looking for by Internet currencies of Cuba I have arrived until its page. I am a Spanish married with a Cuban. Every year we spent days of vacations through Sancti Spiritus. And I always have tried to obtain some gold currency of Cuba. I have not managed to obtain none. First because according to they say to me there are few and second because 17 when has appeared some the price has been elevated. As I can know the mintings that became of the gold currencies of Jose Marti of years 1915 and 1916? Habia of 1.2.4.5.10 and 20 pesos. Also it wanted to know if it is possible as but they are looked for and that year. Thank you very much. Editor: I apologize that I do not read or write Spanish well, so I have to communicate in English. You seem to be having difficulty obtaining Cuban gold 1915/1916 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, and 20 Peso coins. I can advise you that they are plentiful on eBay, both USA and Spanish websites. I think you are aware of eBay? Since the price of gold has risen, the price of gold coins has risen as well. If you are looking for less expensive Cuban gold coins, I can only advise you to keep bidding on listed coins. Eventually, you will be successful at the price that you wish to pay. There are many dealers in USA, Spain, and Puerto Rico who sell Cuban coins on the internet, but I really have not seen any bargains. I also try to buy less expensive, quality Cuban gold coins. The best places to buy Cuban gold coins are at Coin Shows, when you can evaluate the coins and negotiate to get the best price. Please feel free to contact me if I have misunderstood your inquiry. #5. A.G. sent the following email to Rudy Valentin, CNA Vice-President. Hola soy Angel Giannotti y miembro de la ANC radicado en Puerto Rico. Tengo varias dudas y deseo que cuando puedan me ayuden aclarar ciertas de ellas les estare mas que agradecido siempre. La primera duda y pregunta que tengo es la siguiente. Cual es el valor real de una pieza sea moneda o papel moneda por su condicion por su emision o por el precio del catalogo o de un Dealer de mucho reconocimiento por cual me guio. Es cierto que los precios en los catalogos tienen a ser un 30% mayor al precio real de esa pieza. O el precio puede variar de acuerdo al Dealer por considerar la misma pieza de un valor menor o mayor entre uno y otro negociante. Que normas son a seguir para poder guiarse y tener entonces un precio justo ejemplo en las monedas cubanas que se ofrecen en Ebay. Tienen un billete que fluctua entre los $300 y otro lo subasta por solo $40 que indicaciones pueden variar su condicion y su certificación aunque ninguno esta certificado y el precio varia en gran diferencia entre un Dealer y el otro. Deseo cuando Ud pueda me ayude aclarar mis dudas y que forma seria la correcta para guiarme usando el catalogo de Krause. Muchas Gracias y perdone el tiempo que le pueda hacer perder en darme su orientacion y explicacion y ayuda. Rudy Valentin responde: Lo que preguntas no es nade facil de contestar, pero vamos a comenzar por el principio para darte una base de donde tu puedas llegar a tus propias concluciones y aplicar tu juicio en diferentes situaciones. La regla principal y mas importante en el valor de una pieza numismatica es; DEMANDA Y DISPONIBILIDAD. (supply and demand). Desde luego, cuanto dinero y juicio tiene una persona que quiere comprar una pieza es personal. Los precios de los catalogos son solo una guia y en nada reflejan el valor del mercado. Un dealer o comerciante de monedas esta para ganar dinero, y eso va hacer. Algunos son personas honestas y honrradas y los menos, unos ladrones. Yo prefiero clasificar los mejores como, Numismaticos Profecionales, (professional numismatists) Estos estudian las monedas antes de venderlas y estan dispuestos a ofrecer informacion e historia de las mismas. Por su puesto, garantizar la autenticidad de las piezas que vende. ("Si de aqui a cien años tu encuentras que la pieza es falsa traela que yo te devuelo el dinero" ) eso no es garantia ! El numismatico profecional debe asegurarce de la autenticidad de las piezas que vende antes de venderlas!, o en su defecto Advertirle al comprador y que el sea el juez si compra o no. Los precios de las piezas Cubanas, a nuestro entender, estan por las nubes. En realidad hay mas monedas Cubanas disponibles que coleccionistas. Pero existe un fenomeno en estos dias que se llama "Invercionista/especulador". Estos acaparadores estan pagando por las monedas de oro y de plata por encima del preciodel metal. Cada cual hace con su dinero lo que quiera. Esto ha pasado anteriormente y muchos se han quemado. 18 Por ultimo, es siempre bueno tener un profecional para que ayude a uno a construir su coleccion, siempre que este sea una persona que comprenda el concepto de NUMISMATICO PROFECIONAL. Recuerde que los precios de una firma Internacional no son los mismos que de un pequeño dealer de una comunidad (Los costos de operaciones son diferentes). Y , lo mas importante es lo que estas haciendo, Consultando con otras personas, informarce con revistas y libros, pertenecer a un club y visitar coin shows, para mantenerse al dia. Como todo la numismatica es cambiante constantemente. Le recomiendo la Sociedad Numismatica Americana . (ANA) Espero estas guias le sirvan en algo para navegar en el ancho mar Numismatico. Se me olvidaba, sobre E'Bay, oigo muchas historias, personalmente casi nunca entro pues el asunto de los precios me asusta. Otra cosa son las monedas encapsuladas. Si son de una de las compañias bien reconocidas vale el premio que hay que pagar para obtener la garantia de genuina. No creo en MS-70 es un guimmick para sacarle mas dinero a uno. Si tiene alguna otra duda o pregunta , no vacile en contactarnos nuevamente. #5. A.G. sent the following email: I have a concern that maybe you can HELP ME. I will like to known if a 2 Centavos 2010 EXITS. I verify and only show on the catalog the following years =1915-1916- until 1986. Someone told me that the 2010 is RARE. Do you known something if was minted or not? Editor: The Krause Catalog of World Coins lists the last Cuban 2 centavo as being minted in 1986. I have recently seen a Cuba 2010 centavo, but no 2 centavo. My email to the Cuban Mint went unanswered. In summary, I have no evidence that there have been any 2 centavos minted since 1986.. WANT ADS FOR SALE: 1. Cuban ANACS MS62 1933 Peso (list $170) - $145, includes SH&I. Cuban ANACS MS62 1915 10 Centavo (list $250) - $90. Includes SH&I. Cuban NGC MS62 1915 Centavo (list $70) - $45. Includes SH&I. Cuban NGC MS63 1946 5 Centavo (list $45) - $30. Includes SH&I. Cuban NGC MS61 1920 20 Centavo (list $100) - $55. Includes SH&I. Many other CERTIFIED and “raw” Cuban centavos and pesos. 032012 Contact Frank Putrow at [email protected] or 727 5317337. 2. Cuban VF – AU centavos (1c to 40c) for sale. 75% of Krause list. Many to choose from. Guaranteed satisfaction. Contact Jesus Inguanzo at [email protected] or 305 2237200. 032012 3. Cuba and World Coins. Order your free list at [email protected] or call 813 9334871. 032012 19 4.. 032012 WANTED: 1. 1920 KM11.2 (No period after G) Cuba 5 centavo. 1960 100 Pesos Aguilera (Muestra for the ABN). Contact A. Giannotti at 787-7927617 (PR) or [email protected] 072312 2. 1915 Cuban Gold 20 Peso PF63 or better. Contact James Koss at 239-2809050 or jameskoss@the bestbackandsleepstore.net 072312 OTHER: 1. Buying and selling all Cuban coins, medals, and tokens. George Manz Coins. www.georgemanzcoins.com or email [email protected] in Regina, Canada. Telephone 306 3522337. 032012 EXTRA, EXTRA!!! Auction results will now be provided as the last part of the CNA Newsletters. This will allow members to simply remove the section, and combine them for ready reference. 20 SISTER CLUBS 21 Auction Results: Auction Results: H = Heritage – September 6-11, 2012 – Long Beach #3020 SB = Stack’s Bowers – August 2012 – Philadelphia ANA Includes bp 1915 Cuba 1 Centavo NGC PF65 1915 Cuba 1 Centavo NGC PF65 1915 Cuba 2 Centavo NGC PF64 1915 Cuba 2 Centavo NGC PF65 1915 Cuba 2 Centavo NGC PF65 1916 Cuba 2 Centavo PCGS PR64 1915 Cuba 5 Centavo NGC PF64 1915 Cuba 5 Centavo NGC PF64 Cameo 1915 Cuba 5 Centavo NGC PF66 1915 Cuba 10 Centavo NGC PF 62 1915 Cuba 10 Centavo NGC PF 62 1915 Cuba 10 Centavo PCGS PR 65 1870 P-CT Cuba 20 Centavo NGC PF63 Bn. 1870 P-CT Cuba 20 Centavo NGC PF64 Bn. 1915 Cuba 20 Centavo LR/CR NGC MS62 1915 Cuba 20 Centavo NGC PF63 1915 Cuba 20 Centavo PCGS PR66 1915 Cuba 40 Centavo PCGS PF65 1915 Cuba 40 Centavo NGC PF61 1915 Cuba 40 Centavo NGC PF62 1915 Cuba 40 Centavo NGC PF62 1870 Cuba ½ Peso AU 1870 P-CT Cuba Peso PCGS PR58 1897 Cuba PAT.97 Souvenir Bronze Peso NGC VF30 Bn. 1898 Cuba Peso NGC Au Details 1898 Cuba Peso NGC AU53 1898 Cuba Peso NGC AU58 1898 Cuba Peso PCGS Copper Pattern SP58 1915 Cuba Peso NGC PF62 1915 Cuba Peso PCGS PR65 1915 Cuba Peso LR NGC MS62 - $ 544.03 (H) 558.13 (H) 528.75 (H) 705.00 (H) 881.25 (H) 528.75 (H) 646.25 (H) 646.25 (H) - 2,585.00 (H) 558.13 (H) 822.00 (SB) 2,232.50 (H) - 1,880.00 (H) - 1,645.00 (SB) 7,637.50 (H) 1,645.00 (H) 3,525.00 (H) 3,290.00 (H) 822.50 (H) 822.00 (SB) 851.88 (H) 1,762.00 (SB) - 21,150.00 (H) - 4,112.00 (SB) - 1,035.00 (SB) - 1,528.00 (SB) - 2,820.00 (H) - 11,750.00 (H) - 1,762.50 (H) - 21,150.00 (H) - 8,812.50 (H) 22 1916 Cuba Peso NGC PF62 - 3,819.00 (SB) 1934 Cuba Peso NGC MS62 141.00 (H) 1937 Cuba Peso PCGS MS65 - 12,925.00 (H) 1939 Cuba Peso PCGS MS65 - 2,467.50 (H) 1915 Cuba Peso Gold NGC MS66 822.50 (H) 1915 Cuba Peso Gold NGC MS66 - 1,292.50 (H) 1915 Cuba Peso Gold PCGS PR64 - 2,585.00 (H) 1915 Cuba Peso Gold NGC PF64 Cameo - 2,820.00 (H) 1916 Cuba Peso Gold NGC PF63 Ultra Cameo - 2,820.00 (H) 1916 Cuba Peso Gold NGC MS62 385.40 (H) 1915 Cuba 2 Peso Gold NGC PF63 - 3,525.00 (H) 1915 Cuba 2 Peso Gold NGC PF65 - 9,400.00 (H) 1915 Cuba 4 Peso Gold NGC PF64 Ultra Cameo - 7,637.50 (H) 1915 Cuba 4 Peso Gold NGC PF64 - 8,225.00 (H) 1915 Cuba 5 Peso Gold NGC PF63 - 8,225.00 (H) 1915 Cuba 5 Peso Gold NGC PF63 Ultra Cameo - 12,925.00 (H) 1915 Cuba 5 Peso Gold NGC MS61 499.38 (H) 1915 Cuba 5 Peso Gold NGC MS62 470.00 (H) 1915 Cuba 10 Peso Gold NGC MS62 - 1,087.00 (SB) 1915 Cuba 10 Peso Gold NGC PF64 Ultra Cameo- 25,850.00 (H) 1916 Cuba 10 Peso Gold AU 822.50 (H) 1915 Cuba 20 Peso Gold NGC MS61 - 1,998.00 (SB) 1915 Cuba 20 Peso Gold NGC MS61 - 2,350.00 (H) 1915 Cuba 20 Peso Gold NGC MS62 - 2,056.00 (SB) 1915 Cuba 20 Peso Gold NGC MS62 - 2,350.00 (SB) 1915 Cuba 20 Peso Gold NGC MS62 - 2,350.00 (H) 1915 Cuba 20 Peso Gold NGC PF65 Cameo - 99,875.00 (H) 1855 Cuba $20 Note – Cuba, N.Y. – AU/Proof - 646.00 (SB) 23 24