500 Costa Rican Colones banknote (Manuel María Gutiérrez Flores)

500 Colones (Issued 1994)

The Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica, depicted on the reverse of this 500 Colones banknote, stands as one of the most celebrated architectural landmarks in Central America, constructed in the late nineteenth century and inaugurated in 1897. Built in a neoclassical European style, it was funded in part through a tax levied on coffee exports, making it a direct symbol of Costa Rica’s cultural and economic ambitions during a period of considerable prosperity. The theatre’s inclusion on this denomination reflects its enduring status as a national treasure and a defining image of Costa Rican civic identity. This note was issued on 6 de julio de 1994 under the authority of the Banco Central de Costa Rica as part of the 1980–2000 Modern Colón issue series.

On the front, the dominant feature is a finely engraved portrait of Manuel María Gutiérrez, the Costa Rican composer best remembered for writing the music to the national anthem, whose name is printed in small text beneath the portrait. The engraving is rendered in warm terracotta and rust-brown tones against a background of intricate guilloché rosette patterns and fine-line spirals in pale salmon and rose pink, creating a layered visual depth across the note’s surface. The large numeral “500” appears prominently in the lower right corner in bold red-orange, balanced by a matching “500” in the upper left. The text “QUINIENTOS COLONES” is printed in strong, uppercase serif lettering across the upper centre of the note, with “BANCO CENTRAL DE COSTA RICA” appearing in bold capitals along the lower edge. The date “6 de julio de 1994” is printed in the upper portion of the note, alongside the location “SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA”. Two signature lines are visible, labelled “PRESIDENTE EJECUTIVO” and “GERENTE” respectively, with the reference to “ACUERDO DE LA JUNTA DIRECTIVA No. 19” printed to the right. The serial number D13627038 appears in red in both the upper right and lower left areas of the note, and the series designation “SERIE D” is printed in two positions. The overall colour palette of the front is dominated by warm oranges, reds, and pinks with subtle cream and light yellow in the background fields.

The reverse presents a detailed engraved view of the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica at its centre, rendered with considerable architectural precision in rich terracotta and deep rust-brown inks. The building’s neoclassical façade is clearly depicted, showing the columned entrance, arched windows, decorative stonework, and the sculptural figures crowning the roofline. Below the central image, the caption “TEATRO NACIONAL DE COSTA RICA” is printed in small, clear uppercase text. To the left of the building, a large stylised sunburst motif features a classical face at its centre — a decorative element drawn from the theatre’s own interior iconography — surrounded by radiating lines rendered in blue and violet against the warmer central tones. Flanking the main vignette are curved guilloché border patterns in blue and violet, which frame the composition on both sides and provide a contrast to the warmer central tones. The denomination “500” appears in bold red in the lower right, accompanied by a decorative flourish, while “QUINIENTOS COLONES” is printed in large uppercase letters across the top of the reverse. “BANCO CENTRAL DE COSTA RICA” is repeated along the lower section of the note in matching bold capitals. A large, lightly printed watermark area is visible to the right of centre, appearing as a pale, ghost-like oval shape consistent with the security paper used in this series.

Sell foreign coins and banknotes the simple way: this 500 Colones banknote can be exchanged through Webuyallcurrency.com together with other old or withdrawn Costa Rican Colones banknotes, all settled in a single transaction.

• Indicate the quantity of 500 Colones banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

Webuyallcurrency.com is a simple way to exchange or sell foreign coins and banknotes for cash — current or withdrawn — turning your Costa Rican Colones banknotes and any other leftover currency into one straightforward payout.

Other Costa Rican Colones you can exchange: 1,000 colones, 2,000 colones, 5,000 colones, 10,000 colones, 20,000 colones, 50,000 colones.