100 Pesos

The Banco Central de Cuba issued a new 100 pesos banknote in 2023 featuring Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, regarded as the Father of the Homeland and a principal figure in Cuba's independence movement who launched the Ten Years' War against Spanish colonial rule in 1868. The obverse displays a portrait of Cespedes, while the reverse illustrates the iconic Jose Marti monument at Havana's Anti-Imperialist Tribune opposite the U.S. Embassy, representing Cuba's commitment to sovereignty and independence.

The banknote incorporates a watermark featuring the portrait of Celia Sanchez Manduley, a legendary revolutionary figure and longtime companion of Fidel Castro who was celebrated for her role in the Cuban Revolution. Measuring 150 x 70 mm, the note was printed by the Departamento Impresos Seguridad in Cuba. A notable design change distinguishes the 2023 version from previous emissions: it lacks tactile relief and Braille code for blind individuals, representing a departure from accessibility features included in earlier versions.

Carlos Manuel de Cespedes holds an iconic place in Cuban national identity as the man who freed his slaves and declared Cuban independence at La Demajagua on October 10, 1868, the date now celebrated as Cuban Independence Day. His portrait on the 100 pesos note underscores the continuity between Cuba's 19th century independence struggle and its 20th century revolution.