Costa Rica 1979 5 centimos

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This specimen exemplifies the dreadful state of modern coin design. The drab, low relief design failed to inspire any but the most devoted collectors of Central American coins. It is a product of the Guatemala mint. This is the last issue of the denomination but enough were produced to put thirty pieces in the pocket of every Costa Rican resident at the time.

Recorded mintage: 60,000,000.

Specification: 0.98 g, brass, 15 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM 184.3a.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• Gurdian, Raul, Contribucion al Estudio de las Monedas de Costa Rica: 100 Años de Colon, 2a Ed., San José, Costa Rica, 1997.
• Stickney, Brian, A Monetary History of Central America, New York: American Numismatic Society, 2017.

Links to:

• 1972 5 centimos
• 1978 25 centimos
• 1979 10 centimos
• 1980 25 centimos
• Coins and currency dated 1979
• return to Costa Rica