50 Colones

The Banco Internacional de Costa Rica was not a central bank in the modern sense — it was a state-owned commercial institution that held the government account and exercised note-issuing authority during a period when Costa Rica was still sorting out its monetary architecture. The 50 Colones was the highest denomination in regular circulation for much of this series run, meaning these notes moved through government transactions and large commercial dealings rather than everyday retail trade. Survivorship is accordingly poor; high-denomination notes were redeemed and cancelled more systematically than small notes.

ABNC produced the plates in New York, and the print quality reflects their standard engraved intaglio work of the period — technically accomplished, though the design borrows freely from their stock repertoire.