As far as I would see it, a foreign exchange certificate which is only redeemable in certain locations is like a paper token, and is exonumia.
A banknote can be used by anybody anywhere for any goods or services.
In the case of Cuba (and I guess it is on most of countries that used FEX), you are partially correct, they were not redeemable on certain locations; they were valid as money on certain locations, and also by certain people.
Series A: To be used for foreign visitors while they were visiting Cuba (tourists), and only at the stores authorized to operate in “divisas” (foreign currency).
Series B: To be used by temporary foreign and Cuban naturals permanently residing outside the country, during their visits to Cuba.
Series C: To be used by permanent residents (Cuban and foreign naturals).
Series D: To be used by foreign naturals, while in scholar condition at Cuba.
Cuban Peso: To be used only by Cuban natural, permanent residents on the stores non-authorized to operate in foreign currencies.
There were no store authorized to operate on both Cuban Peso and foreign currencies.
Therefore, both FEX and national currency were “only redeemable in certain locations”, that on your statement would make both “like a paper token, and is exonumia.” What is the difference between them? As for that definition, either both are exonumia, or both are banknotes.
Just 10 options: you understand binary, or you don't.
Catalog Referee Coins, Banknotes & Exonumia: Uruguay, Cuba, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Panama, Ecuador, Zamunda, Parva Domus and more.
So how do we get the Chinese and Myanmar FEC’s moved to banknote section since there seems to be more evidence that’s where they should be?
As said, I don't know about China and Myanmar FEX regulations and conditions of use; therefore I suggest first discuss with involved referee(s) and, if needed, ask for a category change.
Two more facts about this matter:
a) INTUR coins complemented FEX notes, for small change, they were issued before and after the creation of the FEX date (FEX on 1985, INTUR coins on 1981, 1988 and 1989). But instead of being issued by National Bank of Cuba, like the FEX, they were issued by the Tourism Institute, depending of the Government, but no to the Bank. However, FEX were placed in the “Unusual” part of Krause catalog, but INTUR coins are in the Standard coins section.
b) Peso Convertible (CUC) was created on 1994, and replaced the FEX/INTUR coins system, easing things, as were eliminated the 4 series of users, but in fact the use was the same, they were to be used by all foreign people and Cuban naturals residing outside the country, in the stores that accepted this currency. Now we can see the inconsistency of Krause, as they placed the CUC notes in “Unusual paper money” section and the coins in "Standard coins" section. Obviously we can't base classification on the Krause lines.
Also please note FEX (at least Cuban) have a main difference to traveler's checks: Traveler's checks were issued at the traveler origin country and exchanged at destination country for local currency to be used there; the FEX were exchanged at arrival at Cuba for the original currency of the traveler, and even for the corresponding traveler's checks, for this currency to be used at Cuba.
Just 10 options: you understand binary, or you don't.
Catalog Referee Coins, Banknotes & Exonumia: Uruguay, Cuba, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Panama, Ecuador, Zamunda, Parva Domus and more.
As far as I would see it, a foreign exchange certificate which is only redeemable in certain locations is like a paper token, and is exonumia.
A banknote can be used by anybody anywhere for any goods or services.
So, by this logic, regular Cuban banknotes should also be called exonumia because they couldn´t be used in “foreign currency shops”. And foreign tourists couldn´t use them for payments, especially in public transport and museums.
That´s the problem of many socialist/communist countries at certain periods of their history: they just didn´t have a currency unit that could be used by anybody anywhere for any goods or services.
Series A: To be used for foreign visitors while they were visiting Cuba (tourists), and only at the stores authorized to operate in “divisas” (foreign currency).
Series B: To be used by temporary foreign and Cuban naturals permanently residing outside the country, during their visits to Cuba.
Series C: To be used by permanent residents (Cuban and foreign naturals).
Series D: To be used by foreign naturals, while in scholar condition at Cuba.
Cuban Peso: To be used only by Cuban natural, permanent residents on the stores non-authorized to operate in foreign currencies.
What is the source of this info? Russian Wikipedia says that the series A was for the visitors from socialist countries, and series B - for the visitors from capitalist countries. And the exchange rate was 1 peso in B certificates = 5 pesos in A certificates = 25 pesos in regular Cuban pesos.
Also there were 2 types of INTUR coins: copper-nickel ones (1981, 1989, and 1 centavo 1988 with a deer) for B certificates, and aluminium ones (1988) for A certificates. When the convertible peso was introduced in 1994, aluminium coins were exchanged at par with copper-nickel ones and thus became 5 times more valuable.
Series A: To be used for foreign visitors while they were visiting Cuba (tourists), and only at the stores authorized to operate in “divisas” (foreign currency).
Series B: To be used by temporary foreign and Cuban naturals permanently residing outside the country, during their visits to Cuba.
Series C: To be used by permanent residents (Cuban and foreign naturals).
Series D: To be used by foreign naturals, while in scholar condition at Cuba.
Cuban Peso: To be used only by Cuban natural, permanent residents on the stores non-authorized to operate in foreign currencies.
What is the source of this info? Russian Wikipedia says that the series A was for the visitors from socialist countries, and series B - for the visitors from capitalist countries. And the exchange rate was 1 peso in B certificates = 5 pesos in A certificates = 25 pesos in regular Cuban pesos.
Also there were 2 types of INTUR coins: copper-nickel ones (1981, 1989, and 1 centavo 1988 with a deer) for B certificates, and aluminium ones (1988) for A certificates. When the convertible peso was introduced in 1994, aluminium coins were exchanged at par with copper-nickel ones and thus became 5 times more valuable.
Hi. My source is the coins and notes catalog edited by Numismatic Museum of La Habana, which is strongly connected to Central Bank and Cuban mint/Cuban notes printer. I would be more confident to Cubans (who created the notes and coins) source than Russians (Wiki is written by individuals, not connected directly to issuers). There is no mention of exchange rate between different series, and it's not coherent, since they were to be used by different people.
About INTUR coins, the difference comes from (at least) 3 different issues 1981, 1988 and 1989, there are also one steel issue (10 cents, 1989). There is no mention about being created to be used by different people. All 1988 coins had aluminum planchets, out of the 1 cent, that was copper-nickel; all 1981 & 1989 coins were copper-nickel, out of the mentioned 10 cents of steel.
As long as I know, Convertible Peso (CUC), created on 1994, that replaced the Intur/FEX system, was paired to US Dollar in exchange rate, while Cuban Peso (CUP) was about 1/25 Dollar. This exchange rate had some variations during CUC life (1994-2020).
Just 10 options: you understand binary, or you don't.
Catalog Referee Coins, Banknotes & Exonumia: Uruguay, Cuba, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Panama, Ecuador, Zamunda, Parva Domus and more.
All 1988 coins had aluminum planchets, out of the 1 cent, that was copper-nickel; all 1981 & 1989 coins were copper-nickel, out of the mentioned 10 cents of steel.
There are two different types of 1 centavo 1988, with different compositions and designs. The only explanation that I see is that they belong to two different currencies - certificates A and B.
Exactly the same system existed, for example, in North Korea: they had special coins for locals, visitors from socialist countries and visitors from capitalist countries (no stars - 1 star - 2 stars varieties of the coins of 1959).
All 1988 coins had aluminum planchets, out of the 1 cent, that was copper-nickel; all 1981 & 1989 coins were copper-nickel, out of the mentioned 10 cents of steel.
There are two different types of 1 centavo 1988, with different compositions and designs. The only explanation that I see is that they belong to two different currencies - certificates A and B.
Exactly the same system existed, for example, in North Korea: they had special coins for locals, visitors from socialist countries and visitors from capitalist countries (no stars - 1 star - 2 stars varieties of the coins of 1959).
Sorry, but I don't think same way. in FEX there were not 2 versions, instead they were 4, identified as A, B, C & D; on coins, that were issued 4 years before, by a different government's dependence (INTUR - Instituto de Turismo, instead of National Bank of Cuba) And the use of FEX were CLEARLY IDENTIFIABLE by the letters on them. Now, there were not 4 different types of coins, on 1981 there were only 2 on some face values, with a unclear difference, 5, 10 and 25 Cents with and without face value over INTUR logo, and 50 Cents and 1 peso without number. On 1988 there were only 1 type on each face value, different general design form '81 coins, only 2 versions on 1 cent, and on 1989 again same designs as on 1981, and all of them with the number over logo.
The differences usually are noticed by numismatists, but so small variations would hardly be noticed by visitors, there is no explanation on catalogues or numismatic books mentioning coins were meant to be used by different range of users, opposite to the explanation about FEX (in spite not all agree the use).
“There are two different types of 1 centavo 1988, with different compositions and designs. The only explanation that I see is that they belong to two different currencies - certificates A and B.” As the copper-nickel version is clearly similar in design to all the 1989 issued coins, I think they may have been minted after the aluminum version, being part of the 1989 batch, but either dated 1988 for being the first value minted of the 3rd. lot, or maybe just a mistake. (This is just what I guess to explain the fact, not based on available data.)
I don't know how the North Korean system worked, but knowing the Cuban thinking style, I feel the system was basically copied from the FEX Socialist model, but with variations.
Just 10 options: you understand binary, or you don't.
Catalog Referee Coins, Banknotes & Exonumia: Uruguay, Cuba, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Panama, Ecuador, Zamunda, Parva Domus and more.
In my opinion, all FEC should be considered as banknotes, regardless where or how they can be spent. It's money, but with little restrictions. I did not even understand or know the word ""Exonumia"" until I came here.
According to Google's definition, the word Exonumia means - numismatic items such as tokens, medals or scrip other than coins and paper money. To me, FEC is made of paper and it's used as money and therefore it is paper money. No matter how you twist or turn, at the end of the day, it is still money, and more importantly, they are all issued by the central bank/government of the issuing country just like normal banknotes.
in FEX there were not 2 versions, instead they were 4, identified as A, B, C & D
Series C and D look almost like A and B, but in fact they are completely different. They have 3 lines on the back to be filled: one for the issue date, and other two for the bearer´s signatures. So they were personalized and valid only 5 years from the date that was written on them. Also, the series C is called "Certificado de compra" ("Purchase certificate"), and other 3 series are called "Certificado de divisa" ("Foreign exchange certificate").
Russian forum of banknote collectors has more detailed info on this topic: http://forum.fox-notes.ru//index.php/topic,8185.msg88767.html#msg88767 (though also without links to any official documents). First of all, the series A and B were issued on October 1, 1985. And the forum members say that they were for exchanging currency of socialist and capitalist countries. The series C was issued on June 1, 1987 and was made for cuban residents that recieved currency from abroad. The series D was issued on May 1, 1987 and was intended for foreign students that studied in Cuba. D certificates were pegged to US dollars like B certificates, but were personalized and valid only 5 years.
What I found myself is the official Cuban newspaper "Gaceta oficial" September 3, 2001; #61. Resolution #73/01 says that "exchange tokens INTUR" ("fichas de cambio INTUR") circulated between 1994 and 2001 at par with US coins and convertible peso coins. On October 15, 2001 they were desmonetized and withdrawn. And the newspaper doesn´t say what happened before 1994, it only gives numbers of previous resolutions regarding these tokens: "no 90 de 28 de marzo de 1986; no 89 de 21 de marzo de 1989; no 205 de 20 de agosto de 1992; no 116 de 4 de mayo de 1994 Y número 204 de 25 de agosto de 1994". The newspapers before 2001 are not available online, so the only way to find the truth is to find paper versions in a library.
