1 Peso 1896, Cuba
| in Krause book | Number: 47a |
| Years of issue: | 15.05.1896 |
| Edition: | -- |
| Signatures: | El Gobernador: Francisco Cassa Rouvier, El Consejero: Joaquin Jover y Costas, El Cajero: E.L. Orellana |
| Serie: | Banco Español de la Isla de Cuba |
| Specimen of: | 15.05.1896 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 95 х 46 |
| Printer: | American Bank Note Company, New-York |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
Description
Watermark:
Avers:
On top is the window with the following image:
Below are two of the globe, representing the New World or America (left) and the Old World or Europe (right).
On the New World globe is the coat of arms of Havana and (near) bundle of sugar cane, as the main Cuban food product.
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The coat of arms of Havana (End of XIX century).
The coat of arms of Havana, Cuba, consist of three castles that represent the three original main castles which defended the city - namely, the Fuerza Castle, the Morro Castle and the Punta Castle.
The key represents that Havana was the gateway to the New World of Spanish America.
On the Old World globe is one of the varieties of the coat of arms of Spanish Kingdom.
The blazon of the Spanish coat of arms is follows:
1st and 3rd quarters - Gules, a three towered castle Or, masoned sable and ajouré azure - Kingdom of Castile.
2nd quarter - Argent, a lion rampant purpure (sometimes blazoned gules) crowned Or, langued and armed gules - Kingdom of León.
4nd quarter - Or, four pallets Gules - for the former Crown of Aragon.
enté en point - Argent, a pomegranate proper seeded gules, supported, sculpted and leafed in two leaves vert - Kingdom of Granada.
Centered (Inescutcheon) - During the brief reign of Amadeo, the royal crown was reinstated and an escutcheon of Savoy (Gules, a cross argent) was placed en surtout. There were not many Spanish arms including the escutcheon of Aosta (Argent, a cross gules within a bordure compony azure and or), the arms used by Amadeo before his accession to the throne of Spain.
Crest & Top of supporter - Or and precious stones, with eight rosettes, five visible, and eight pearls interspersed, closed at the top by eight diamonds also adorned with pearls and surmounted by a cross on a globe - Spanish Royal crown (Heraldic crown).
Near Old World globe is Caduceus, as a symbol of commerce.
The caduceus is the staff, carried by Hermes, in Greek mythology. The same staff was also borne by heralds in general, for example by Iris, the messenger of Hera. It is a short staff entwined by two serpents, sometimes surmounted by wings. In Roman iconography, it was often depicted being carried in the left hand of Mercury, the messenger of the gods, guide of the dead and protector of merchants, shepherds, gamblers, liars, and thieves.
As a symbolic object, it represents Hermes (or the Roman Mercury), and by extension trades, occupations, or undertakings associated with the god. In later Antiquity, the caduceus provided the basis for the astrological symbol representing the planet Mercury. Thus, through its use in astrology and alchemy, it has come to denote the elemental metal of the same name. It is said the wand would wake the sleeping and send the awake to sleep. If applied to the dying, their death was gentle; if applied to the dead, they returned to life.
Denominations are across all field of banknote.
Revers:
The engraving on banknote is made after this photo of HM The Queen of Spain Maria Christina of Austria.
Maria Christina Henriette Desideria Felicitas Raineria of Austria (21 July 1858 - 6 February 1929) was Queen of Spain as the second wife of King Alfonso XII. She was regent during the minority of their son, Alfonso XIII, and the vacancy of the throne between her husband's death and her son's birth.
Known to her family as Christa, she was born at Židlochovice Castle (Groß Seelowitz), near Brno, in Moravia, a daughter of Archduke Karl Ferdinand of Austria and his wife, Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria.
Her paternal grandparents were Archduke Charles of Austria and Princess Henriette Alexandrine of Nassau-Weilburg.
Various sources attributed good traits to Maria Christina before her marriage. One states she was "tall, fair, sensible, and well educated".
Maria Christina married King Alfonso XII of Spain on 29 November 1879 at the Basilica of Atocha in Madrid, and became the mother of his only three legitimate children:
Mercedes, Princess of Asturias; married Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
Infanta Maria Teresa of Spain; married Prince Ferdinand of Bavaria
Alfonso XIII of Spain (born posthumously); married Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg
His previous wife was Mercedes of Orléans, who had died half a year after their marriage, leaving no issue. She lived a discreet life as queen.
When the King died, Maria Christina was pregnant, so the throne was vacant, depending on whether Maria Christina's unborn child was a male or a female; a male would make that child king, while a female would place her elder daughter, Infanta María Mercedes, on the throne. During this period, Maria Christina ruled as regent until her child, a son, was born, who was Alfonso XIII of Spain from birth. Maria Christina continued as regent until Alfonso XIII attained his majority in 1902; she is the "Her Majesty the Queen Regent of Spain" named as concluding in the Treaty of Paris (1898) with the United States of America, ending the Spanish-American War.
Her chief adviser and head of government was Práxedes Mateo Sagasta. Her rule is described as well balanced and in accordance with respect for the constitutional rights, and many political reforms were instated during her regency to prevent political conflicts and chaos. Her role was mostly ceremonial, and her purpose was to preserve the crown for her son until he became an adult. After her son's marriage in 1906, she lost her position as first lady at court and became Queen dowager and Queen Mother.
She was the 805th Dame of the Royal Order of Queen Maria Luisa.
She died at the Royal Palace in Madrid and is buried at El Escorial. 
Denominations in numerals on the right and left sides.
Comments:
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