CUBA: Republic, AR souvenir peso, 1965, KM-XM5, plain edge in silver, struck for the Agency for Cuban Numismatics in Exile, PCGS graded PF65 CAM. According to Richard Lobel, "This was the first piece that I was ever involved with in striking. I did it with Paul Weinstein and Richard Margolis. We based this on the Cuban Souvenir Peso of 1897 which was issued in New York City to raise money for the Cuban Freedom Fighters. We gave money to Alpha 66, one of the militant groups at the Bay of Pigs. Everything went well until the United States Government put a stop to it. Perhaps one of the most flattering things to happen, was a dealer in Puerto Rico made copies of our pieces. This are slightly larger and not as well done as ours. I have put in a copper trial which is rare and some hallmarked pieces. These were ordered by Sydney W. Smith of Miami, a well known old time dealer. When he could not sell them, he wanted to return them to me in London. In order to do that he had to have them hallmarked by the British Assay Office. There are only 50 pieces with this hallmark".
Estimate: USD 100 - 150