The 20,000-peso denomination was introduced as a coin in 2025, part of Banco de la República's ongoing effort to replace high-value banknotes with more durable coinage — a shift driven by the long-term cost advantage of coins over paper in heavy-circulation economies. Santa Marta, Colombia's oldest surviving city, was founded by Rodrigo de Bastidas in 1525, making the 2025 issue a quincentennial acknowledgment. The nickel-silver alloy chosen resists the humid coastal climate that routinely degrades circulating coinage across the Caribbean littoral.
The 20,000-peso denomination was introduced as a coin in 2025, part of Banco de la República's ongoing effort to replace high-value banknotes with more durable coinage — a shift driven by the long-term cost advantage of coins over paper in heavy-circulation economies. Santa Marta, Colombia's oldest surviving city, was founded by Rodrigo de Bastidas in 1525, making the 2025 issue a quincentennial acknowledgment. The nickel-silver alloy chosen resists the humid coastal climate that routinely degrades circulating coinage across the Caribbean littoral.