Commems Collection Medals: 1952 Cuba 50th Anniversary Medal

In 1952, Cuba marked the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Republic with a set of three commemorative coins (10, 20 and 40 centavos) and a commemorative medal.

The obverse of the medal features a jubilant crowd celebrating and waving as the Cuban flag flies in the wind above Castillo el Morro (Morro Castle) in Havana Bay. The reverse depicts the coat-of-arms of each of Cuba's historical provinces (first created by the Spanish colonial government in 1879 and still in force in 1952). Today, Cuba has 15 provinces plus a special municipality.


Image is of the medal in my collection.

The medal was designed by Anthony de Francisci; it was struck by the Casa de la Moneda de Cuba. I am aware of bronze medals in two sizes (34mm and 45mm), but there could be other sizes as well. The medal shown is 45mm in diameter.


The commemorative coins that were issued in 1952 share a common design; the coins were struck at the US Mint. The obverse again depicts the Cuban flag flying over Morro Castle (sans crowd) with a modern (circa-1952) Havana skyline in the background; the reverse depicts "La Demajagua," the sugar plantation and mill at which Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, its owner, freed his slaves and declared Cuban independence on October 10, 1868 - recognized as the start of "The Ten Years War." The plantation is shown in ruins on the coins, as the result of the war, time and neglect, with a tree growing through one of the gears from destroyed plantation machinery.



Coin images courtesy of Heritage Auctions, http://www.ha.com.