Cuba 5-CENTAVOS (KM411)

The Cuban land snail (aka Painted snail aka Polymita picta) is a land snail endemic to the forests of eastern Cuba. Their shell size grows up to 20 mm long and features various bright colours. Because of their beauty and variety, they are popular with collectors and for jewellery which of course led to them being endangered. Cuba has protected them since 1943 and exports are banned (except for scientific purposes).

- Thanks to André for indentifying this one!

In the 1980s, Cuba did several issues of visitor's coinage for use by tourists. This is one of those pieces, and was minted in 1981 only. There is a second nearly identical version of this coin (KM412) that has the number "5" on the reverse (minted 1981 and 1989).