Volcania
appears to be an internet inspired micronation, however, this is speculation as
no information about it is known to us.
An image of another Volcania banknote, a $1,500.00/10,000 has been sent by a
collector. Reportedly found in a plastic bag in the Miami area, the motif includes an
outline of Cuba with the back indicating the date of 1978.
The above $35,000 note was submitted by
Beate Rauch of World Wide Paper Collectibles.
This banknote appears to be a private anti-communist propaganda issue from "Volcania". The note has a curious combination of Egyptian motifs on the front with Spanish language text and an embedded postage stamp on the back. The back design also contains a triangular shaped design element with a volcano, the moon,
stars, pyramids and the text "primero muerto que ficlavos", first died how...? There are also images of two
Egyptian cats
and the signature of the President on the back. Egypt is believed to be the first country to have domesticated cats around 2000 BC.
The front design is much simpler and contains a portrait of Tutankhamen at left and Queen Nefertiti at right. In the center is a portrait of "S.M. Ali Babu III el G., mountains, the denomination $35,000 Dollars?, a serial number and the "country" and bank names.
Colombian papermoney dealer, Yezid (Jessie) Acosta of
Notofilia.com provided the following
translation and analysis: the inscription on the back says “1st Communiqué of War August 3, 1977 – I am making know to public knowledge the following statement. That every person or government that backups
the international communism that dominates Cuba we warn you that you will be judged for high treason and your sentence will be executed based on the consequences of casa de la moneda de la nacion" (the Volcania version of the
federal reserve).
Jessie speculates that this note may have circulated in Angola when Cuba had its military stationed there. The postage stamp date coincides with the period when Cuban troops were in Angola but the banknote has a later date.
A
note similar to N.4 has been listed in Archives International Sale,
AMERICAN
BANK NOTE ARCHIVES AUCTION, PART VII with this description:
Lot 459 Republica De Volcania - Banco Nacional De Volcania Political
Advertising Note. Cuba, 1977, $35,000, Republica De Volcania, Brown with no
underprint, Photo of “S.M. Ali Babu III El G.” flanked by Egyptian royalty with
S/N 7 0381; back gray-green with Volcania flag, small text describing
information about the note and a facsimile of a 7ct. Volcania Stamp on the right
with small text “Destruccio Del Comunismo” and printed under stamp “Recluta 20
Hombres Para Accion Suicida Contra El Comunismo”. Additional text on back that
needs further research. Interesting Cuban Anti-Communism political ad note. VF
Condition. Scarce. Est. $125-250
Readers with information about this issue are encouraged to write us.
DZ We gratefully acknowledge DZ for submitting
these images..
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