The cent 5, cent 10, cent 20, cent 50, and cent 100 banknotes
that we are all presently familiar with were born between 1968 and
1977. All are "children" of the National Bank (Banco Nacional),
created in 1948 as the issuing agency of the country.
"It is possible that the images that are shown were conceived in
Costa Rica, but the designs were made in foreign money printing
establishments," says Manuel Chacon, curator of the Numismatic
Museum.
Cent 5: Series D, issued in 1968. Front: Face of
ex-presidente Rafael Yglesias Castro. Reverse: Allegory of
the National Treatre (Teatro Nacional).
Cent 10: Series D, issued in 1972. Front: Face of
ex-president Rafael Yglesias Castro. Reverse: Allegory of the
Natonal Theatre (Teatro Nacional).
Cent 20: Series C, issued in 1972. Series Z was issued in 1983.
This issue corresponded to polymer banknotes (a type of plastic).
Front: Ex-president Cleto Gonza lez Vazques and an image of
Barva. Reverse: Allegory of justice.
Cent 50: Series D, issued in 1978. Issued to celebrate the
centenary of the Bank of Costa Rica. Front: Gaspar Ortuno,
Administrator of said bank. Reverse: Old building of the Bank
of Costa Rica.
Cent 100: Series E, issued in 1977. Series H circulates today.
Front: ex-presidente Ricardo Jimenez Oreamuno.
Reverse: the Supreme Court of Justice building. In the
previous version - - series D - - a herdsman with cows was
pictured.
Source: AL DIA, San Jose, Costa Rica, 10 febrero 2002.
Courtesy: Mauricio Aguero and Michael Whelihan.
