Inherited a box of old CC's - dating question

[oliverdst]

Boxes sold in Spain are not priced in US $. Even if the price of "$39.45" could match that of a box of 10 in 1989.

And a box sold in Spain should bear the Altadis sticker.

Why do you think price is in US$?

$ is not a symbol of a specific currency, it's just a general sign of price/money.

[Smallclub]

Why do you think price is in US$?

$ is not a symbol of a specific currency, it's just a general sign of price/money.

uh... where, exactly?

[CaptainQuintero]

How do the cigars feel when you rub then between your thumbs and finger? Squishy or hard? A bit of give and a dryish crackle?

If you're putting then into your own humidor I'd freeze everything, if not (or as well as) light one up and see how it tastes

Great find although sad circumstances, thanks for sharing the experience

[Phillycyclocross]

How do the cigars feel when you rub then between your thumbs and finger? Squishy or hard? A bit of give and a dryish crackle?

If you're putting then into your own humidor I'd freeze everything, if not (or as well as) light one up and see how it tastes

Great find although sad circumstances, thanks for sharing the experience

[Phillycyclocross]

How do the cigars feel when you rub then between your thumbs and finger? Squishy or hard? A bit of give and a dryish crackle?

If you're putting then into your own humidor I'd freeze everything, if not (or as well as) light one up and see how it tastes

Great find although sad circumstances, thanks for sharing the experience

They aren't at a point where I feel comfortable squeezing them. I plan on gently bringing them up to the humidity level of my humidor. Once they are at that level for a few weeks maybe I'll take one out and touch it. Probably won't smoke one before it gets cold but maybe if I catch a warm day in Oct I will try one. I plan on aging them at the right humidity for quite a few years before I even think of smoking them.

[Cletus]

Why do you think price is in US$?

$ is not a symbol of a specific currency, it's just a general sign of price/money.

uh... where, exactly?

Lots of countries:

U.S.

Mexico

Canada

New Zealand

Chile

Fiji

Namibia

etc.

World Currency Symbols

[GasGuy82]

I'd be curious as to whether they were bought in a duty free store. I remember coming back with my brother from Greece in 1993, we paid in dollars not drachmas at the duty free. Of course they also sold a 12 and 9 year old a bottle of rum. Duty free price could have been quite low especially considering the strength of the dollar in the late 1980's.

[avaldes]

I vividly remember the price of a box of Hoyo DC in 1998 was $154. So ten years earlier and marevas instead of DC's...

[Smallclub]

I vividly remember the price of a box of Hoyo DC in 1998 was $154. So ten years earlier and marevas instead of DC's...

Could be 154 in one country and nearly the double in the country nearby...

[Phillycyclocross]

Wow you guys are really stuck on this price thing? Sorry I can't be of help. I wouldn't get a straight answer from my Uncle even if he was alive.

[Ken Gargett]

uh... where, exactly?

how about us? though no mention of any connection so unlikely.

not necessarily US$. that was my thought as well. no reason it is US. obviously with the embargo, unlikely, for sales locally.

however, what about from cuba itself (as in purchased there)? been a bit since i checked but i certainly bought boxes there with stickers with $ signs. and that font looks very familiar, though the memory could be playing tricks.

the member concerned mentioned a cuban history. why not a family visitor or friend from/to the island who has picked these up as a gift? and that would help explain the lower price.

[Habana Mike]

Regardless the price, I am sure they're priceless to you. My condolences, sounds like he was quite the interesting guy!

[Habana Mike]

http://www.amazon.com/The-Cigar-Companion-Connoisseurs-Guide/dp/0762401427

Nice find that, Simon Chase and all. New for < $10....new addition to the library!

[dvickery]

As late as 1971 ... My dad was paying 6$ for a box of 25 monty#4's at the base PX ( duty free I believe ) .

Derrek

[Smallclub]

how about us?

why not a family visitor or friend from/to the island who has picked these up as a gift? and that would help explain the lower price.

I'm perfectly aware that countries that have a currency named "dollar" label their price with the $ symbol. I must admit I didn't know about the peso in Colombia, Argentina and Chile.

As for Cuba, I can't see how a box sold in the island could bear the spanish tax sticker...

[Ken Gargett]

I'm perfectly aware that countries that have a currency named "dollar" label their price with the $ symbol. I must admit I didn't know about the peso in Colombia, Argentina and Chile.

As for Cuba, I can't see how a box sold in the island could bear the spanish tax sticker...

no idea either but we have seen moire than enough weird stuff come out of cuba so i would not be surprised. just a possible theory.

[hulklogan]

Dating question for Cuban cigars?

Match.com

BOOM

[wolfain]

Nice legacy of cigars left by your great uncle. Humi it up and try to smoke one in your uncle's name.

Good stuff

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ryan]

The price sticker on the box does look Cuban, although the tax stamp looks Spanish.

Cuba uses the $ dollar sign for the CUC and the CUP, I have never seen that '₱' thing used. Even the font used for the 39.45 looks very similar to the font used on Cuban price stickers today,

[ElPuro]

Pretty sure any beetles would have hatched by now. Also, I believe it is legal.for American to buy and smoke cigars on other countries, just not import them, right?

[CaptainQuintero]

Pretty sure any beetles would have hatched by now. Also, I believe it is legal.for American to buy and smoke cigars on other countries, just not import them, right?

I think by the law its illegal for US citizens to buy or consume anything from Cuba post embargo no matter where you are in the world; its classed as supporting the state.

Obviously reality is a different thing

[Smallclub]

The price sticker on the box does look Cuban, although the tax stamp looks Spanish.

I have submitted the "case" to a friend who is a collector and knows many collectors, and have seen many old boxes from many countries.

He told me that boxes sold in Chile in the 80's beared the spanish tax stamp, and the price of "39.45" might be the price for a single (which makes sense, in many countries the prices labeled are for singles).

[foursite12]

that makes sense given the exchange rate in some of those locations.

[foursite12]

The Chilean Peso's symbol is "$"; however, the exchange rate back then was about 250 pesos per USD and decimals were meaningless.

In Spain, the peseta was not represented by the "$" symbol.

Argentina also uses the $ sign but the exchange rate went bonkers in 1989, with insane inflation, and I would be surprised to see a price tag on anything being sold at retail back then. Argentina is not likely.

Mexico? The $ sign is used. Exchange rate was around 8.5, making that a $4.65 cigar back then if the tag was for a single, priced in Mexican Pesos. I can't explain the Spain stamp but the exchange rate would be in the ballpark.