1,000 Costa Rican Colones polymer banknote (Braulio Carrillo Colina, 2019)

1,000 Colones (Issued 2019)

The 1,000 Colones banknote issued by the Banco Central de Costa Rica in 2019 honours Braulio Carrillo Colina, one of the most consequential statesmen in Costa Rican history, whose modernising reforms during the nineteenth century helped define the nation’s legal and agricultural foundations. Carrillo Colina is remembered as a decisive figure who shaped Costa Rica’s early independence era, and his presence on the country’s currency reflects the enduring respect accorded to him by successive generations. The note also celebrates Costa Rica’s remarkable natural heritage, pairing national history with the extraordinary biodiversity for which the country is internationally recognised. Printed on polymer substrate, this 2019 issue represents the modern face of Costa Rican monetary design, combining advanced security technology with vivid, nature-inspired imagery.

On the front, the dominant feature is a finely engraved portrait of Braulio Carrillo Colina positioned left of centre, rendered with considerable detail across the face, collar, and lapels of his dark coat, set against a background of intricate guilloché patterning in deep rose and pink tones. His name appears in small text beneath the portrait, reading “BRAULIO CARRILLO COLINA”. To the left of the portrait sits a holographic green and multicoloured map of Costa Rica, with the country’s distinctive silhouette clearly visible against shifting iridescent colours. The central field carries a circular security element inscribed with “ESTADO DE COSTA RICA”, featuring a blue star motif at its centre and a gold-coloured ring, functioning as an optically variable device that shifts appearance with the viewing angle. The denomination is boldly stated in the lower centre as “1 MIL COLONES” in large, prominent numerals and lettering, with “1000” also appearing in the upper left corner. At the top of the note, text reads “ACUERDO No 5” and “30 de septiembre de 2019”, alongside the series designation “SERIE C”. Two facsimile signatures appear on the left side, one above the title “PRESIDENTE” and one above “GERENTE”. The right-hand portion of the note transitions into a transparent polymer window framed by dark swirling patterns in teal and black, within which a smaller secondary portrait of Braulio Carrillo Colina appears as a ghost image, and the words “COSTA RICA” and “MIL COLONES” are printed vertically in teal along the extreme right edge. The overall colour palette of the front is a vivid rose-pink and magenta, overlaid with fine geometric latticework patterns extending across the full width of the note.

The reverse presents a richly coloured natural scene dominated by a standing white-tailed deer (identified by accompanying text as “Venado Cola Blanca, Odocoileus chiriquensis”) rendered in warm brown and cream tones, positioned in the centre of the composition and facing left. Behind the deer stands a large, spreading deciduous tree with a full canopy of green foliage, set within an open landscape scene evoking the “Bosque Seco” — the tropical dry forest — named explicitly in the upper right corner of the note. White and cream flowering plants are visible in the lower right foreground, adding botanical detail to the scene. To the left of the deer, a small green leaf-shaped holographic security element is embedded into the note surface. The upper portion of the reverse carries the issuing authority name “BANCO CENTRAL DE COSTA RICA” in bold black lettering across a pale upper band, and the serial number “C038475500” appears in black beneath this, printed in clear, evenly spaced digits. The denomination “1000” is printed in large numerals in the upper left corner, and “COLONES” appears vertically in large text along the right edge in a deep teal. The left side of the reverse features the same transparent polymer window visible from the front, containing the ghost portrait of Braulio Carrillo Colina rendered in monochrome grey against the dark oval window, with the serial number also printed vertically along the left edge in teal. The background of the reverse continues the rose and pink guilloché patterning consistent with the front, providing a cohesive visual identity across both faces of the note. A small species label reading “Pizote (Nasua narica)” is visible in small text to the right of the deer, suggesting additional fauna referenced in the scene’s design notes, and “San José” and further small caption text appear at the lower left of the reverse image area.

Webuyallcurrency.com makes it easy to exchange old coins and banknotes — a 1,000 Colones banknote from Costa Rica is accepted with other current Costa Rican Colones banknotes and converted into cash in one go.

• Indicate the quantity of 1,000 Colones banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

Got a mix of old coins and banknotes? Webuyallcurrency.com will exchange your Costa Rican Colones banknotes alongside other leftover and foreign currency, settling the whole lot in one straightforward transaction.

Other Costa Rican Colones you can exchange: 2,000 colones, 5,000 colones, 10,000 colones, 20,000 colones, 50,000 colones, 500 colones.