Costa Rica Coins
Costa Rica' s official currency is the Costa Rican colón, which has been a fundamental part of the country's economic history. Throughout the years, Costa Rican numismatics has undergone several changes and significant events that reflect the evolution of the nation.
Current currency in circulation
The Costa Rican colón, introduced in 1896, continues to be the legal tender in Costa Rica. Currently, coins of 5, 10, 25, 25, 50, 100 and 500 colones are in circulation, as well as bills of 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000, 20000 and 50000 colones. The designs of these pieces represent the flora, fauna and culture of the country, including images of historical characters, emblematic buildings and natural landscapes.
Monetary history and relevant facts
Before the colón, Costa Rica used several currencies, including the real and the peso. An important milestone in Costa Rican numismatics was the issuance of the first gold coins in 1828. In 1951, the Central Bank of Costa Rica was created, which assumed responsibility for monetary issuance. A notable event occurred in 1982, when a commemorative 100 colones coin was issued to celebrate the visit of Pope John Paul II, marking the first time a religious figure appeared on a Costa Rican coin.
| Country | Costa Rica |
| Flag | |
| Coin | Colón (CRC) |
| 1€ | 524,14₡ |
| Continent | America Centro |
| Capital city | San José |
| ISO2 | CR |
| ISO3 | CRI |
| Catalogued coins | 306 |
If you are a passionate collector, this catalog offers the possibility to create your own personal collection from this list. You can add your coins and generate a free PDF catalog from a complete database and our management tools. In addition, once registered, you will have the opportunity to exchange coins with other collectors around the world easily and free of charge.
The most valuable coins
The most valuable Costa Rica coins and sought after by collectors according to Foronum statistics are the following:
The valuation of these coins has been achieved through a meticulous algorithm that considers the current market, taking into account aspects such as material, weight, diameter, edge, year of mintage, mint of manufacture and the number of coins produced. Coins with limited mintages and in good condition are usually among the most valuable.
Coin Catalog
500 colones (50th Anniversary of the Central Bank)
500 colones
100 colones
5 céntimos
5 colones (25th Anniversary of the Central Bank)
10 colones
500 colones
100 colones
1 colón
25 colones (Magnetic)
20 colones
100 colones
10 colones (25th Anniversary of the Central Bank)
50 colones
1 colón
100 colones
1 colón
500 colones (200th Anniversary of Independence)
5 colones
2 colones
Other resources to find coins and banknotes of Costa Rica
Can't find what you are looking for? Take a look at our coin finder and speed up your searches within the collections of all collectors, or if you prefer you can search directly in the list of coin collectors and access their profile to see their collections.