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50 Céntimos Counterstamped Coinage, Type VIII
| Issuer | Costa Rica |
|---|---|
| Year | 1923 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 50 Centimos (50 céntimos) (0.50 CRC) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The reverse of the host coin features a large wreath of laurel and coffee branches encircling a central raised circle, within which a circular counterstamp reading 50 CENTIMOS has been applied. The legend AMERICA CENTRAL arcs along the upper portion of the field, while the assayer and weight designations G.W. 9 Ds. appear at the base beneath the wreath, denoting the fineness and weight standard of the original host coin. The counterstamp is applied in a recessed punch, clearly superimposed over the original reverse design. |
| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Edge | Log in to see details |
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| Additional information |
Costa Rica's counterstamped issues of the early 1920s were a practical response to chronic silver shortages and the difficulty of contracting new coinage abroad during a period of postwar monetary disruption. Rather than mint fresh pieces, the government authorized the application of official stamps to existing circulating coins — a documented expedient used across multiple Central American nations during this period. Type VIII is one of several counterstamp varieties catalogued for this denomination, distinguished by the specific punch device used.
The host coins vary in origin and date, which is why condition assessments for counterstamped types depend as much on the underlying piece as on the stamp itself.