The Central Bank of Cuba informs the population that, as part of the updating of the country’s monetary coinage, two new denominations (two thousand and five thousand Cuban pesos) are being introduced, and the structure that this coinage should have under current circumstances continues to be studied.
From Wednesday 1 April 2026, the first five thousand Cuban peso banknotes will begin to circulate in Havana and will gradually be introduced throughout the country. The same will happen with the two thousand Cuban peso banknote, which will be announced in due course.
The issuance of the new banknotes aims to facilitate cash transactions, respond to the real needs of the economy which demands large amounts of cash, helping to reduce cash logistics costs and gain agility in operations during the current period of inflation through which the country is passing.
The new family of Cuban banknotes changes its traditional design and incorporates the use of one hundred per cent of its area and new security elements. For the first time in the history of national numismatics, these two new banknotes will feature images of Cuban women patriots.
In the case of the 2,000 CUP banknote, the Mother of the Nation, Mariana Grajales Cuello; and in the 5,000 CUP banknote, the Heroine of the Sierra Maestra, Celia Sánchez Manduley.
Both banknotes have the following characteristics:
– The paper used in their manufacture is special security paper for banknotes, with features in line with international standards, with dimensions of 150 by 70 millimetres.
– The predominant colours of the 2,000 peso banknote are violet and pink; for the 5,000 peso note, it is blue.
– A watermark featuring the image of the patriot is included, accompanied by an electrotype with the denomination of the banknote.
– Integrated into the paper vertically on the right side of the banknote is a security thread with a motion effect, which on the obverse shows the initials BCC and the denomination number.
– Both on the obverse and reverse, the national flower of Cuba, the «Mariposa» (butterfly jasmine), appears as a novel security element, which will have a rainbow motion effect when the viewing angle is changed.
– In the central part of the obverse is the image of the patriot. This features high-relief printing.
– In the upper left section is the legend Central Bank of Cuba. In the lower right corner is the Bank’s logo and the denomination in letters; above this is shown a high-relief element made using colourless embossing, which can be seen and felt by touch.
– In the upper right corner, below the denomination, are elements for identifying the banknote for the visually impaired.
– In the upper centre of both banknotes appear the initials BCC, belonging to the Central Bank of Cuba, and below them the signature of the President of the Bank.
– On the reverse, in the central part, is the phrase REPUBLIC OF CUBA. In the centre is a depiction of a memorial complex. In the case of the 2,000 CUP banknote, this refers to the monument to the Mother of the Nation in Santa Ifigenia Cemetery; and in the 5,000 CUP banknote, the Celia Sánchez Manduley Memorial in Lenin Park.
– For both, the denomination in letters is placed in the lower centre.
– In the upper left corner, below the denomination, and in the lower right corner, above the denomination, appears the banknote series, consisting of three letters and a two-digit number.
– Also, in the upper left and right areas of the banknote, the banknote number appears with 6 digits.
– In the lower left corner is the logo of the Central Bank of Cuba and the year of manufacture of the banknote.
