CRC – Costa Rican Colon

Monetary System

1850: 1 Costa Rican peso = 8 reales
1864: 1 Costa Rican peso = 100 céntimos
1896: 1 Costa Rican colón (CRC) = 100 céntimos

Central Bank of Costa Rica
Banco Central de Costa Rica

The Banco Nacional de Costa Rica was established toward the end of 1936, when the former International Bank was reorganized. Until 1945, the Currency Issuing Office was attached to Banco Nacional de Costa Rica.
Law No. 1130 of 28 January 1950 established the Banco Central de Costa Rica (Central Bank of Costa Rica, BCCR), and Law No. 1552 granted it issuing authority.
For more information, visit www.bccr.fi.cr.

2018 – 2019 Issues

According to a CCL press release dated 9 July 2018, Marvin Alvarado, treasurer of the Central Bank of Costa Rica, announced the bank’s decision to change all denominations currently printed on cotton paper to polymer substrate to combat counterfeiting.

Description: 1,000.00 CRC – Costa Rica Colon   Size: 125 x 67 mm

Red. Front: Spanish text; map of Costa Rica in SPARK Orbital; Braulio Carrillo Colina; original ESTADO DE COSTA RICA shield. Back: Spanish text; dry forest (bosque seco) landscape in Guanacaste; pitahaya cactus flowers; tree; white-tailed deer; scorpions. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark: Leaves. Printer: (Orell Füssli). 125 x 67 mm. Polymer (Guardian).

Description: 2,000.00 CRC – Costa Rica Colon   Size: 132 x 67 mm

Blue. Front: Spanish text; map of Costa Rica in SPARK Orbital; open books; Mauro Fernández Acuña; Colegio Superior de Señoritas building in San Jose. Back: Spanish text; coral reef (arrecife coralino); star fish (Oreaster reticulatus, estrella de mar de la laguna); bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas, Tiburón toro); turtles; and corals (Pseudopterogorgia americana, plumas de mar). Simulated solid security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: (Oberthur Fiduciairie). 132 x 67 mm. Polymer (Guardian).

Description: 5,000.00 CRC – Costa Rica Colon   Size: 139 x 67 mm

Yellow and tan. Front: Spanish text; map of Costa Rica in SPARK Orbital; Alfredo González Flores; Banco Internacional building. Back: Spanish text; mangrove swamp; flowers; crab; monkey; caimans. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: (Oberthur Fiduciairie). 139 x 67 mm. Polymer (Guardian).

Description: 10,000.00 CRC – Costa Rica Colon   Size: 146 x 67 mm

Green. Front: Spanish text; map of Costa Rica in SPARK Orbital; soldier with rifle; José Figueres Ferrer; abolition of the army. Back: Spanish text; rainforest; orchid flower; mushroom cup; three-toed sloth; birds. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: (Orell Füssli). 146 x 67 mm. Polymer (Guardian).

Description: 20,000.00 CRC – Costa Rica Colon   Size: 153 x 67 mm

Orange. Front: Spanish text; map of Costa Rica in SPARK Orbital; María Isabel Carvajal (Carmen Lyra); fox and hare. Back: Spanish text; papelillo flowers; moor; Chispita hummingbird (Selasphorus flammula); rabbits; herbs. Simulated solid security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: (Oberthur Fiduciairie). 153 x 67 mm. Polymer (Guardian).

2009 – 2015 Issues

These notes are based upon original drawings by illustrator Fernando Zeledón. They have embossed dots above the watermark areas to assist the sight-impaired in distinguishing between denominations.

Description: 1,000.00 CRC – Costa Rica Colon   Size: 125 x 67 mm

Red. Front: Spanish text; Braulio Carrillo Colina; original ESTADO DE COSTA RICA shield; map of Costa Rica on see-through leaf. Back: Spanish text; dry forest (bosque seco) landscape in Guanacaste; pitahaya cactus flowers; tree; white-tailed deer; scorpions. Simulated security thread. Watermark: Leaves. Printer: (Oberthur Technologies). 125 x 67 mm. Polymer (Guardian).

Description: 1,000.00 CRC – Costa Rica Colon   Size: 125 x 67 mm

Red. Front: Spanish text; Braulio Carrillo Colina; original ESTADO DE COSTA RICA shield; map of Costa Rica on see-through leaf. Back: Spanish text; dry forest (bosque seco) landscape in Guanacaste; pitahaya cactus flowers; tree; white-tailed deer; scorpions. Simulated security thread. Watermark: Leaves. Printer: (Oberthur Technologies). 125 x 67 mm. Polymer (Guardian).
Like preceding issue, but without yellow on front, and window images with transparent outlines.

Numismatic Product Museums

Banco Central de Costa Rica maintains several museums in San José, including the Museo de Numismática, which features a permanent exhibit of Costa Rican currency. For more information, visit www.museosdelbancocentral.org.

Banco Central de Costa Rica sells specimen notes to the public. For more information, visit www.museosdelbancocentral.org.

Out of Circulation Notes

2009 – 2015 Issues

Description: 2,000.00 CRC – Costa Rica Colon   Size: 132 x 67 mm

Blue. Front: Spanish text; open books; Mauro Fernández Acuña; Colegio Superior de Señoritas building in San Jose; map of Costa Rica in OVI. Back: Spanish text; coral reef (arrecife coralino); star fish (Oreaster reticulatus, estrella de mar de la laguna); bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas, Tiburón toro); turtles; and corals (Pseudopterogorgia americana, plumas de mar). Windowed security thread with demetalized BCCR 2000. Watermark: Mauro Fernández Acuña and electrotype 2000. Printer: (Oberthur Technologies). 132 x 67 mm. Paper.

Description: 5,000.00 CRC – Costa Rica Colon   Size: 139 x 67 mm

Yellow and tan. Front: Spanish text; Alfredo González Flores; Banco Internacional building; map of Costa Rica in OVI. Back: Spanish text; mangrove swamp; flowers; crab; monkey; caimans. Security thread varieties. Watermark: Alfredo González Flores. Printer: (Oberthur Technologies). 139 x 67 mm. Paper.

Description: 10,000.00 CRC – Costa Rica Colon   Size: 146 x 67 mm

Green. Front: Spanish text; soldier with rifle; José Figueres Ferrer; abolition of the army; map of Costa Rica in OVI. Back: Spanish text; rainforest; orchid flower; mushroom cup; three-toed sloth; birds. Motion windowed security thread and solid security thread. Watermark: José Figueres Ferrer and electrotype 10000. Printer: (Oberthur Technologies). 146 x 67 mm. Paper.

Description: 20,000.00 CRC – Costa Rica Colon   Size: 153 x 67 mm

Orange. Front: Spanish text; María Isabel Carvajal (Carmen Lyra); fox and hare; map of Costa Rica in OVI. Back: Spanish text; papelillo flowers; moor; Chispita hummingbird (Selasphorus flammula); rabbits; herbs. Motion windowed security thread and solid security thread. Watermark: María Isabel Carvajal and electrotype 20000. Printer: (Oberthur Technologies). 153 x 67 mm. Paper.

Description: 50,000.00 CRC – Costa Rica Colon   Size: 160 x 67 mm

Purple. Front: Spanish text; Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno; Supreme Court building in San Jose; map of Costa Rica in OVI. Back: Spanish text; cloud forest; parasol mushroom; bromelia flower; morpho butterfly; beetles. Motion windowed security thread and solid security thread. Watermark: Ricardo Jiménez Oreamuno and electrotype 50000. Printer: (Oberthur Technologies). 160 x 67 mm. Paper.