Cuba 10 and 20 Centavos 1915 to 1949

Here are some approximate catalog values for 10 and 20 Cuban centavos. They both bear the shield and star pattern shown in the picture

10 (DIEZ) CENTAVOS:
worn: $2 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $4
well preserved: $8
fully uncirculated: $70
10 centavos dated 1916 and 1920 are more rare, cataloging around $15 in well preserved condition
10 centavos dated 1948 and 1949 are very common, cataloging around $3 in well preserved condition

20 (VEINTE) CENTAVOS:
worn: $3 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $5
well preserved: $10
fully uncirculated: $70
20 centavos dated 1932 are rare, cataloging around $200 in well preserved condition
20 centavos dated 1948 and 1949 are common, cataloging around $6 in well preserved condition

There are some nuances with these coins that may get collector juices flowing. The 1915 20 centavos was made with both a fine reeding and a coarse reeding on the edge. According to CoinCommunity, fine reeded coins have 146 reeds around the edge, while coarse readed coins have only 114 reeds.

Also, these coins were made with both a low relief star and a high relief star. High relief stars protrude from the coin surface a little more than low relief stars.

In all, that means that for 1915, there were four different 20 centavos coins. The 'high relief star, fine reeding' and 'low relief star, coarse reeding' varieties are common coins. However, the other two comindations are valuable:

- A 'low relief star, fine reeding' 1915 20 centavos coin catalogs for $50 in average circulated condition.
- A 'high relief star, coarse reeding' 1915 20 centavos coin catalogs for $150 in average circulated condition.

Unfortunately, it is virtually impossible to differentiate high/low relief and coarse/fine reeding coin over the Internet. It is not easy in person. If you have a nice-looking 1915 20 centavos, seek out a knowledgeable collector or professional coin dealer to help identify what you've got.

If you have a common date coin worn down to a frazzle, it will only be worth value of the silver it contains. These coins weigh 2.5 and 5 grams, respectively, and are made of .900 pure silver. There are 31.1 grams in a troy ounce, so a 20 centavos contains 5*0.9/31.1 = 0.1447 troy ounces of silver per coin, and a 10 centavos contains half that amount. If, for instance, silver prices are around $24 per troy ounce, a 20 centavos contains about 0.1447 * 24 = $3.50 worth of silver per coin.

Also, be sure you understand what 'catalog' means. Use our Terminology page.
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