Costa Rica 2003 500 colones
This specimen exemplifies the dreadful state of modern coin design. The drab, low relief design, accentuated by the dull material, failed to inspire any but the most devoted collectors of Central American coins. This specimen was lot 22419 in Stack's Bowers 2018 NYINC sale (New York, January 2018), where it sold for $168. The catalog description[1] noted, "COSTA RICA. 500 Colones, 2003. NGC MS-63. Thin numerals. VERY SCARCE, from a reported mintage of only 100 pieces. Nicely struck with light attractive tone." The common type, with thick numerals, was issued 2003 and 2005.
Recorded mintage: 15,000,000 of KM 239.1 and 100 of KM 239.2.
Specification: 11 g, aluminum nickel bronze, 33 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 239.1 (thick numerals) and KM-239.2 (thin numerals).
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 2001-Date, 13th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2018.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio, John Kraljevich and Cris Chatigny, The January 2018 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, featuring the Eldorado Collection of Colombian and Ecuadorian Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2017.
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