5,000 Costa Rican Colones banknote (Rafael Yglesias Castro)

5,000 Colones (Issued 1996)

In 1996, Costa Rica was governed under the presidency of José María Figueres Olsen, son of the celebrated national hero José Figueres Ferrer, who had abolished the country’s military in 1948. The Banco Central de Costa Rica issued this high-denomination 5,000 Colones note during a period of significant economic modernisation, as the country consolidated its reputation for democratic stability and environmental stewardship in Central America. The mid-1990s saw Costa Rica deepen its commitment to sustainable development and ecotourism, values that are subtly reflected in the natural imagery chosen to adorn this note’s design.

On the front, the dominant central motif is a pre-Columbian gold figurine of considerable detail — a twin-headed or composite zoomorphic creature rendered in rich brown and bronze tones, its surface intricately engraved to suggest the hammered metalwork of ancient Costa Rican goldsmithing traditions. To the right of this central image sits a decorative cartouche containing a geometric guilloché pattern in orange and cream, framed by an ornate border with repeating interlaced motifs in blue and gold. The background of the note is a pale aquamarine-blue, with fine multicoloured guilloché linework providing texture across the field. The denomination “5000” appears prominently in large numerals at the upper left in deep blue, with “CINCO MIL COLONES” printed in a bold serif typeface at the upper right. The issuing authority’s name, “BANCO CENTRAL DE COSTA RICA”, is displayed in a prominent gold and ochre banner across the lower portion of the note, printed in bold block capitals. The serial number B17289701 appears twice — once vertically along the right margin in red and once horizontally at the lower left in blue — allowing for dual-orientation identification. The note bears the legend “SERIE B” and the date “SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA 27 de marzo de 1996”, alongside the reference “ACUERDO DE LA JUNTA DIRECTIVA No 14”. Two signatures appear beneath the central vignette, attributed to the Presidente and Gerente of the Banco Central, rendered in dark ink. At the far right, a repeated decorative emblem featuring a stylised cross or star motif appears in blue-green, consistent with a security device or watermark indicator panel. The overall print quality is crisp intaglio engraving, giving the central figurine strong tactile relief.

The reverse presents a vivid full-colour scene drawn from Costa Rica’s celebrated biodiversity. A large spherical stone sphere — referencing the famous pre-Columbian granite balls found in the Diquís Delta and regarded as one of Costa Rica’s most iconic archaeological artefacts — sits prominently at the lower centre, rendered in cool grey-blue tones. Surrounding it is a lush tropical composition: a toucan with its distinctive large orange and yellow beak perches among green foliage in the upper left area, while a spotted wild cat, identifiable as a jaguar or ocelot, crouches to the right of the stone sphere amidst dense jungle undergrowth. To the far right, a pre-Columbian stone statue stands tall, carved in a humanoid form and depicted in warm brown tones, referencing Costa Rica’s indigenous archaeological heritage. Palm fronds, broad tropical leaves, and layered green vegetation fill the background, creating a rich, naturalistic tableau that speaks to Costa Rica’s environmental identity. The denomination “5000” is printed in large numerals at both the upper right and lower left in blue, with “CINCO MIL COLONES” appearing in bold text at the upper centre. The legend “BANCO CENTRAL DE COSTA RICA” runs along the lower margin in dark blue, and a small printer’s credit — Thomas De La Rue and Company Limited — is visible in fine print beneath it. The overall colour palette of the reverse moves through deep greens, warm earth tones, and sky blues, producing a note of considerable visual richness.

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• Indicate the quantity of 5,000 Colones banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• 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, 10,000 colones, 20,000 colones, 50,000 colones, 500 colones.