Pattern coinage for Costa Rica in the late 1920s was tied to a broader monetary reform effort as the country worked to stabilize its currency after years of fiscal pressure following World War I commodity fluctuations. The KM#Pn15 designation confirms this piece never progressed to circulation — patterns from this period were frequently struck in alternate compositions to test durability and public reception before a final alloy was committed to production.
Costa Rica ultimately continued with brass and bronze-based coinage for small denominations through the 1930s, meaning this copper-nickel trial was rejected at the decision stage.
Pattern coinage for Costa Rica in the late 1920s was tied to a broader monetary reform effort as the country worked to stabilize its currency after years of fiscal pressure following World War I commodity fluctuations. The KM#Pn15 designation confirms this piece never progressed to circulation — patterns from this period were frequently struck in alternate compositions to test durability and public reception before a final alloy was committed to production.
Costa Rica ultimately continued with brass and bronze-based coinage for small denominations through the 1930s, meaning this copper-nickel trial was rejected at the decision stage.