Costa Rican colon banknotes

Costa Rican colón banknotes represent the paper currency of Costa Rica, introduced in 1896 to replace the peso at par. Named after Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón in Spanish), the currency is denoted by the colón sign (₡) and subdivided into one hundred céntimos. Before centralisation, paper money was produced by several private banking institutions as well as the national government and successive state-affiliated banks, before the Central Bank of Costa Rica took over exclusive banknote production from the mid-twentieth century.

Between 1896 and 1917, private institutions including the Banco Anglo–Costarricense, Banco de Costa Rica, Banco Comercial de Costa Rica, and Banco Mercantil de Costa Rica circulated colón notes, typically in denominations ranging from 5 to 100 colones. During the same period, the government issued gold certificates starting in 1897 and silver certificates between 1902 and 1917 in values ranging from 50 céntimos up to 100 colones. In 1914, the Banco Internacional de Costa Rica began issuing paper currency, becoming the sole circulating note issuer after 1917 and adding denominations between 25 céntimos and 2 colones. The Banco Nacional de Costa Rica succeeded it in 1937, frequently overprinting Banco Internacional notes for early provisional issues before issuing its own series from 1 to 100 colones through 1949.

Following its establishment in 1950, the Central Bank of Costa Rica assumed sole responsibility for issuing the currency. Banknotes produced during this modern era, printed by Thomas de la Rue of London, have included specific commemorative releases. These include overprinted seals celebrating the 150th anniversary of national independence in 1971, the central bank's twenty-fifth anniversary on a 5 colones note in 1975, and its fiftieth anniversary in 2000. In 1978, a commemorative inscription marking the centennial of the Banco de Costa Rica was incorporated on the reverse of notes, continuing in production until 1986.