Form and Function for Costa Rica’s New Coins

Several countries utilise one or more of their coin denominations as so-called circulating commemoratives. These are legal tender and, more often than that, produced in sufficient quantities that they do circulate (rather than being snapped up by collectors). The design of (generally) the reverse changes periodically, however, to mark special occasions or reinforce particular national priorities or themes.

The advantages to issuers, and mints, of circulating commemoratives is that they both serve as a means of payment and generate interest, pride and income (seigniorage for governments, fees for mints).

Normally, one denomination is used for this purpose – the 50 pence in the UK, the €2 in the eurozone, the 25 cent (quarter) in the US, the Mexican 20 peso. In Costa Rica, the practice is being applied to all denominations in the country’s new coin series.

Costa Rica – noted for its biodiversity, environmentalism, and political stability – underwent a currency review and reform back in 2017 that saw the introduction of a new banknote series on GUARDIAN™polymer. These were issued in 2020 and 2021.