Cuba, 1994 AD., second republic, visitor's coinage, 10 Centavos, KM 576.1.
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Cuba, 1994 AD., second republic, convertible peso (visitor's coinage, 1994-to date), engraver: Charles E. Barber (obv.), 1994 AD.,
10 Centavos (ø 20 mm / 3,96 g), nickel plated steel (magnetic), 4,00 g. theor. mint weight, mintage ? , axes medal alignment ↑↑ (0°), reeded edge,
Obv.: REPUBLICA DE CUBA / 1994 / diez centavos , Cuban coat of arms, date below, circular legends: name of the country above, and face value in words below; all within a 8-sided ring on edge.
Rev.: 10 ¢ / CASTILLO DE LA – FUERZA , view of the Castillo de la Real Fuerza (Castle of the Royal Army), a 16th century fortress located in Havana, with watchtower and figure on top (called La Giraldilla), value and legend above; all within a 8-sided ring on edge. Softer details, roof tiles hardly visible.
KM 576.1 .
Part of a set given to all tourists to spend in selected shops. It is pegged to the US Dollar at a rate of $1.08.
Year / Mintage / Details
1994 KM#576.1 (medal alignment)
1996 KM#576.2 (coin alignment)
1999 KM#576.2 (coin alignment)
2000 KM#576.2 (coin alignment)
2002 KM#576.2 (coin alignment)
2003 KM#576.2 (coin alignment)
2008 KM#576.2 (coin alignment)
2009 KM#576.2 (coin alignment)
2013 KM#576.2 (coin alignment)
2016 KM#576.2 (coin alignment)
The Castillo de la Real Fuerza (English Castle of the Royal Force) is a star fort on the western side of the harbour in Havana, Cuba, set back from the entrance, and bordering the Plaza de Armas. Originally built to defend against attack by pirates, it suffered from a poor strategic position, being too far inside the bay. The fort is considered to be the oldest stone fort in the Americas, and was listed in 1982 as part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of "Old Havana and its Fortifications".
A previous fort, the Fuerza Vieja (Old Force), was badly damaged in 1555 during an attack on Havana by the French privateer Jacques de Sores and eventually was demolished in 1582. In 1558 Bartolomé Sánchez, an engineer appointed by King Philip II of Spain, began work on the new fort, initially known as the Fuerza Nueva (New Force).
In 1634, Juan Vitrián de Viamonte added a watchtower with a weathervane sculpted in the form of a woman, by Gerónimo MartÃn Pinzón, an artist from Havana, and based on the figure crowning La Giralda in Seville. Although the reason for the choice of this figure, called La Giraldilla, is not known, a common suggestion is to honour Inés de Bobadilla, Havana's only female governor, who assumed control from her husband Hernando de Soto when he undertook an expedition to Florida. She spent many years scanning the horizon for signs of his returning ship (unbeknownst to her, he had died). The figure became the symbol of the city of Havana (it features on the Havana Club rum label), and is now held at the City Museum housed in the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales in the Plaza de Armas, while a copy is in place on the watchtower.
More on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castillo_de_la_Real_Fuerza
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