An essential aspect of the process of abolishing slavery in Cuba was the need for the state to impose its will on the private master-slave sphere. The mechanism of self-purchase from slavery through coartaciones and municipal banks that functioned as mutual savings banks was invented by Manuel Castellanos y Mojarrieta of Cuba.¹ There were other abolitionist projects too, based on coartación and the system of lotteries.² More importantly, juntas destined to oversee the emancipation of slaves were created across the island.