Catalog
5 Colones Oro
| Issuer | República de Costa Rica |
|---|---|
| Year | 1897 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Reverse description | Printed predominantly in green intaglio over a fine guilloche underprint, with the inscription 'CINCO COLONES' set within a decorative banner across the upper centre. The central vignette presents the national coat of arms of Costa Rica within an intricate oval lathe-work frame, flanked by text panels noting acceptance at public revenue administrations and in payment of taxes and fiscal contributions. Large numeral '5' counters occupy each corner, and a further legend at lower centre states the note's convertibility conditions. |
| Reverse lettering | CINCO COLONES SE RECIBE EN LAS ADMINISTRACIONES DE LAS RENTAS PÚBLICAS EN PAGO DE DEUDAS IMPUESTOS Y CONTRIBUCIONES FISCALES MIENTRAS ESTE CERTIFICADO NO SEA PAGADO EN SUS VENTANILLAS EL BANCO DE COSTA RICA POR MONEDA NACIONAL DE PLATA |
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| Comments |
Costa Rica's 1890s note issues were produced under contract with ABNC during a period when the country was cycling through competing private bank concessions — the Banco de la Unión, the Banco de Costa Rica, and various treasury obligations all overlapped in circulation simultaneously. A government-backed 5 Colones Oro denomination was partly a statement of convertibility confidence, pegging value explicitly to gold at a moment when that promise was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain across Central America.
The "Oro" designation matters. By the late 1890s it distinguished these notes from peso-denominated or devalued paper issues, though the gold standard backing was effectively suspended within a few years of this note's issue date.