10,000 Costa Rican Colones banknote (Emma Gamboa Alvarado)

10,000 Colones (Issued 1997-2007)

The Banco Central de Costa Rica, established in 1950 as the country’s central monetary authority, has been responsible for issuing and managing Costa Rica’s currency throughout the modern era of the Colón. As the institution charged with maintaining monetary stability and regulating the national financial system, it produced a series of progressively sophisticated banknotes throughout the latter decades of the twentieth century, of which the 10,000 Colones denomination represents the highest value note in wide circulation during this period. The bank’s full name appears prominently on every note it issues, serving as a clear declaration of governmental and institutional authority. This note, dated 30 de julio de 1997 and printed in San José, Costa Rica, reflects the printing standards and security technologies of that era.

On the front, the dominant feature is a finely engraved portrait of Emma Gamboa, a celebrated Costa Rican educator and literary figure whose name appears printed above her likeness in the upper right area of the note. The portrait is rendered in intaglio engraving in shades of deep blue and purple, depicting her facing slightly to the left with short, styled hair, and occupying the right-hand portion of the note with considerable presence and detail. To the left of the portrait, three vignettes depict Costa Rican volcanoes — labelled Volcán Rincón de la Vieja, Volcán Irazú, and Volcán Arenal — with a fourth, Volcán Poás, also identifiable among the images, all rendered in blue-grey tones with fine engraved linework. The large numeral “10000” appears prominently in the upper left in bold dark blue print, accompanied by the text “DIEZ MIL COLONES” in capital lettering. A vertical serial number, A08049451, appears twice — once in blue on the left side and once in red on the right — and the series designation “SERIE A” is visible in the upper left corner. Two facsimile signatures appear across the lower centre of the note, bearing the titles “PRESIDENTE” and “GERENTE” beneath them respectively. The issuing authority, “BANCO CENTRAL DE COSTA RICA”, is printed in a strong serif font along the bottom of the note in a dark blue banner. A reference to “ACUERDO DE LA JUNTA DIRECTIVA No 13” appears in small text to the right, confirming the legislative authorisation of the note. The overall colour palette of the front combines pale green and cream paper tones with overlaid blue and purple intaglio printing, and fine guilloché background patterns are visible throughout the central field.

The reverse presents a striking central vignette of a puma — labelled “PUMA” in small text at the top and “JAGUAR” to the left, though the animal depicted is clearly the large tawny feline known as a puma or mountain lion — rendered in warm golden-brown intaglio engraving of considerable detail, showing the animal in a resting, alert pose with its head raised. The creature occupies the central and left portion of the reverse against a background of sweeping blue guilloché wave patterns and geometric interlacing designs that fill the field behind it. To the left edge, a series of circular and interlocking geometric rosette patterns in muted blue-green tones provide additional decorative security printing. The denomination “10 000” in large bold numerals and “DIEZ MIL COLONES” in capital text appear in the lower central area in deep navy blue, and the full bank name “BANCO CENTRAL DE COSTA RICA” is repeated in white lettering within a solid dark blue horizontal band running along the bottom of the note. On the right-hand side, a column of diamond and rectangular shapes in blue outline provides an additional decorative and registration element. The paper itself carries a pale cream ground with light multicoloured security fibres visible across the surface.

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• Indicate the quantity of 10,000 Colones banknotes you want to exchange
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• Your online account now shows the exchange value

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Other Costa Rican Colones you can exchange: 1,000 colones, 2,000 colones, 5,000 colones, 20,000 colones, 50,000 colones, 500 colones.