The Central Bank of Cuba began the rollout of a new family of banknotes on April 1, 2026. The notes are the first in a new family of banknotes being developed, which will honor Cuban historical heroines. They are the first Cuban banknotes to feature women, adding Cuba to the growing list of countries that celebrate famous females on banknotes.
The new notes also represent an important change in Cuba’s denomination structure. Previously, the highest denomination in circulation was 1,000 Cuban pesos (CUP). The new family of notes has added two higher denomination notes: 5,000 and 2,000 CUP.
The 5,000 CUP note was put into circulation on April 1, 2026. The 2,000 CUP note will go into circulation at a later date. Both denominations will circulate alongside existing banknotes.
The introduction for higher denomination notes is the result of ongoing inflation and the reduced purchasing power of existing denominations. Despite the country’s efforts to encourage digital payment among consumers, the demand for physical banknotes remains strong.
A closer look at the new banknotes
The new banknotes are on a varnished security cotton substrate. The dimensions are the same as the existing notes in circulation. Let’s take a look at the new notes in detail.
Cuba’s 5,000 CUP Banknote
The face of this note features a portrait of Celia Sánchez Manduley, “Heroine of Sierra Maestra” (Mother of all Cubans), known as the first woman to join Cuba’s guerilla army and as a key aide and confidante to Fidel Castro. Even when she became a high-ranking official she continued to advocate for the poor.
Cuba’s 2,000 CUP Banknote
A portrait of “Madre de la Patria” Mariana Grajales Cuello is featured prominently on the face of this note. She was a 19th Century Cuban patriot who fought for women’s rights, Cuba’s independence, and abolition of slavery.
Security features integrated in the design
The new banknotes have several security features to help guard against counterfeiting.
- Both sides of the notes display the butterfly flower in optical variable ink, giving the illusion of the “wings” fluttering or a rainbow effect when viewed from different angles.
- The watermark on each note features a portrait of the female heroine to whom the note is dedicated, as well as the note’s denomination.
- A vertical security windowed thread with a motion effect is embedded in each banknote; “BCC” and the denomination are visible on the front.
In addition to the security features, raised (tactile) dots on the face of each note help visually impaired consumers detect the denomination of the note.
Did you know? Cuba had a dual currency system until from 1994-2021
In 1994, the convertible Cuban peso was introduced as a second form of currency which the nation hoped would fare better than the Cuban peso, especially when buying imported goods. This attempt to stabilized the economy failed, and the convertible Cuban peso was eliminated in 2021.
Sources/References:
Central Bank of Cuba
Banknote Industry News
Caribbean Today
Notafilia
MRI Bankers’ Guide to Foreign
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