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20 Colones
| Issuer | Costa Rica |
|---|---|
| Year | 1897-1900 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | A bold right-facing bust of Christopher Columbus, with long flowing hair and period dress including a furred or ruffled collar, occupies the central field in high relief. The legend AMERICA CENTRAL arcs along the upper periphery, while VEINTE COLONES curves along the lower periphery, each separated from the bust by a raised dot at either side. A finely toothed border encircles the design. |
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| Additional information |
Costa Rica's gold coinage of the 1890s was struck under contract at the Philadelphia Mint, which supplied the technical capacity that San José lacked. The 20 Colones denomination was introduced as the country transitioned from the peso system following monetary reforms tied to the gold standard — a shift common across Latin America in the final decade of the nineteenth century as governments scrambled to align with international exchange expectations.
Mintages were small across the entire 1897–1900 run, and surviving examples in any grade are genuinely scarce. Philadelphia production records for these issues confirm the low volumes.