The Cuban 5,000-peso banknote, dedicated to the Sierra Maestra heroine Celia Sánchez Manduley, was nominated this Tuesday for the International Banknote Society’s (IBNS) Banknote of the Year 2026 award—an honor that recognizes currency issues for their artistic design, originality, and security features.
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This nomination marks a milestone for national numismatics, as it is the first time in the history of Cuban paper money that a banknote features the portrait of a woman. The figure chosen is Celia Sánchez Manduley, a fighter from the Sierra Maestra and one of the most significant female figures in Cuban history.
The Central Bank of Cuba (BCC) placed the banknote into circulation on April 1, 2026. Measuring 150 by 70 millimeters, the note features a high-relief portrait of Sánchez on the obverse, a design element that allows for identification by touch.
Among its security features, the banknote includes an image of the Mariposa (Hedychium coronarium)—Cuba’s national flower—which displays a rainbow-like movement effect that shifts depending on the viewing angle. It also incorporates a three-dimensional thread embedded within the paper, featuring the acronym “BCC” and the denomination “five thousand pesos,” which creates a sense of motion.
El billete cubano de 5 000 pesos, dedicado a Celia Sánchez Manduley, figura entre los nominados al premio Billete del Año 2026 pic.twitter.com/yI3FK0vo7M
— ECONOMIA_CPELT (@ECONOMIA_CPELT) November 11, 2026
The text reads, “The Cuban 5,000-peso banknote, dedicated to Celia Sánchez Manduley, is among the nominees for the 2026 Banknote of the Year award.”
The note also includes a watermark and an electrotype depicting the heroine’s portrait and the face value. The reverse side features the Celia Sánchez Memorial, located in Havana’s Lenin Park—a site deeply connected to the nation’s historical memory.
In the 2026 edition of the award, the Cuban banknote competes against entries from other nations, including Bhutan, China, and Ukraine. The IBNS evaluates candidates based on artistic quality, originality, composition, and security features, without regard for the economic value of the denomination. Nominations for banknotes issued in 2026 remain open until January 31, 2027. Members of the organization will evaluate the proposals in February, and the winner will be announced in April 2027.
The nomination of the 5,000 Cuban peso banknote places Cuba among the entries being considered for one of the most significant international awards in numismatics, and highlights the inclusion of a historical female figure in the nation’s currency design.
#Cuba | Cuba is advancing agricultural reforms to boost food production and sovereignty amid the U.S. blockade. Measures include expanded land access, direct exports for cooperatives and fewer intermediaries.#FoodSovereignty #Agriculture #USBlockade #teleSUREnglish pic.twitter.com/pJo5nQ7AQE
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) November 5, 2026
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