5 Colones

The Banco Internacional de Costa Rica was established in 1914 as a state-owned institution, effectively replacing the private banking arrangement that had governed Costa Rican currency for decades. This 1916 issue came remarkably early in the bank's existence, when it was still establishing the machinery of a national currency system under full government control.

American Bank Note Company in New York handled most of Central America's prestige printing at this period, and the relationship with Costa Rica was long-running. The P#171 series is not especially rare, but earlier-dated examples within the type attract more attention from specialists focused on the transitional banking period of 1914–1920.