No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeCosta RicaNew ₡500 Coin in Costa Rica: Design, Features, and Exchange Deadline

New ₡500 Coin in Costa Rica: Design, Features, and Exchange Deadline

Time is running out to spend your old ₡500 coins! The Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) has announced that the current golden ₡500 coin will be replaced with a new bimetallic design starting July 1, 2025. This change marks not only a shift in currency but also a celebration of a pivotal moment in Costa Rican history.

The new ₡500 coin commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Annexation of the Nicoya Party, a historic event in 1824 when the Nicoya region voluntarily joined Costa Rica. This annexation significantly expanded Costa Rica’s territory and enriched its cultural heritage, adding the province of Guanacaste to the nation.

To honor this bicentennial, the new coin, which has been in circulation since January 20th, features a striking design showcasing the Nicoya Peninsula and the outline of Guanacaste. A majestic Guanacaste tree, the national symbol of Costa Rica, stands proudly alongside a seal representing the indigenous peoples of the North Pacific. Adding a human touch, the coin also depicts a woman adorned in a vibrant traditional costume, complete with a flowing skirt and intricate embroidery.

The BCCR has stated that the distribution of the new currency and the withdrawal of the old coins will be handled through the national financial system. “As of July 1, 2025, the ₡500 coin of the previous design will lose its value as a means of payment,” the BCCR announced. “As of that date, such coins must be exchanged or deposited in the different financial entities.”

The new coins are bimetallic, with a silver-plated core made of copper and nickel, and a golden ring composed of an alloy of copper, zinc, and nickel. They are slightly smaller than the old coins, measuring 28 millimeters in diameter. On the obverse side, the coin boasts a unique security feature—a “latent” image. This dynamic image appears to shift between the numeral “500” and the initials “BCCR” when the coin is tilted, making it difficult to counterfeit.

In the most recent design, the one commemorating the Annexation of the Nicoya Party, the phrases “200 años de la Anexión del Partido de Nicoya 1824 – 2024” (200 Years of the Annexation of the Nicoya Party 1824 – 2024) and “De la patria por nuestra voluntad” (Of the Nation by Our Will) are prominently displayed.

Don’t forget! After July 1, 2025, those old golden ₡500 coins will no longer be accepted as payment. Be sure to take them to your local bank to exchange them for the new commemorative design before it’s too late.

Trending Now

Costa Rica Ranger Trapped After Falling off Cliff on Cocos Island

Rescue teams in Costa Rica continue their efforts to save a park ranger who fell down a 40-meter cliff on Isla del Coco. The...

Heavy Rains in Costa Rica Trigger Landslides and Floods

Costa Rica faces tough conditions lately from ongoing heavy rains that have sparked deadly landslides and major flooding over the last few days. In...

Guatemala Accepts First Honduran Deportees from US

Guatemala has started accepting deportees from other countries as part of its deal with the United States, with the first group of Hondurans arriving...

Costa Rica Proposes Date for Chaves Immunity Review

Costa Rica's lawmakers took a step forward today in addressing the latest push to strip President Rodrigo Chaves of his legal protections. The Legislative...

White House Calls Nobel Prize to Venezuelan Machado ‘Politics Over Peace’

The Norwegian Nobel Committee handed the 2025 Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado on Friday, sparking sharp words from the White...

Costa Rica Nominates Rebeca Grynspan for UN Secretary-General Role

Costa Rica has put forward Rebeca Grynspan as its candidate for United Nations secretary-general, a move that highlights the nation's push for stronger Latin...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica