174  SELLING  LATIN  AMERICA
Hams  $  735,918
Wines  and  Liquors  473,391
Cotton  Goods  12,648,470
Shoes  4,980,055
Cuba  has  just  established  its  own  coinage.
Its  monetary  system  is  on  a  gold  basis.  The
unit  is  the  gold  peso,  worth  exactly  one  dollar,
United  States  money.  A  silver  fractional
currency,  with  subsidiary  coins  resembling
our  nickel,  two  and  one  cent  pieces,  is  employed, ­
  these  also  being  the  equivalent  in
value  of  American  money  of  the  same  denomination. ­
  Formerly  American  currency
was  in  use,  and  the  possibilities  are  that  it  will
continue  to  be  accepted  at  its  face  value
through  the  island.
Banking  houses  in  close  association  with
American  financial  institutions  are  numerous
here  and  every  modern  facility  in  this  connection ­
  is  afforded.  American  capital  is  largely
invested  in  various  enterprises;  England  and
Canada  are  also  well  represented  here.
Commercial  travellers  pay  no  tax  in  Cuba,
and  samples  are  admitted  duty  free.