5 colones 1946

Common. This banknote represents a regular issue of the 1943-1949 series from Banco Nacional de Costa Rica. The catalog reference to an issue date range of 1943-1949 and multiple documented signatures across this period suggest significant print runs. eBay market data confirms common status: VF examples have sold for $113-150, VG examples for under $40, and even AUNC specimens at around $290 represent typical mid-range pricing for common 20th-century Latin American banknotes. The AU condition grade observed here is desirable but not exceptionally rare for this note type.

This note was issued during the post-World War II era when Costa Rica was stabilizing its currency and economy. The portrait of Braulio Carrillo (1789-1845), a key figure in Costa Rican history who served as Head of State during the period of consolidation of the Central American nation, reflects the country's emphasis on honoring its national founders. The reverse's depiction of the Puente de la Garita, an important infrastructure landmark near San José, symbolizes the nation's modernization and development during this mid-20th century period.

The obverse features an ornate decorative border with floral and geometric patterns in brown, rose/mauve, green, and cream tones. The central design showcases a large ornamental numeral '5' within a decorative shield. The portrait occupies the right side of the note, depicting Braulio Carrillo (1789-1845), a prominent Costa Rican statesman and nationalist leader, rendered in formal 19th-century attire with suit jacket and bow tie, contained within an oval frame. The reverse displays an elaborate tropical landscape vignette centered on the Puente de la Garita, a significant bridge spanning a waterway with mountainous terrain and rural structures in the background, framed by intricate geometric and floral border ornaments with large numeral '5' elements in all four corners. The color scheme transitions from the warm browns and roses of the obverse to cool greens and teals on the reverse, both maintaining consistent ornamental design language.

FRONT SIDE: 'BANCO NACIONAL DE COSTARICA' (National Bank of Costa Rica) | 'DEPARTAMENTO EMISOR' (Issuing Department) | 'SERIE G' (Series G) | '16 de Octubre de 1946' (October 16, 1946) | 'SAN JOSE, COSTARICA' (San Jose, Costa Rica) | 'CINCO COLONES' (Five Colones) | 'ACUERDO DEL CONSEJO DIRECTIVO Nº 7' (Agreement of the Board of Directors No. 7) | 'Sub-Gerente del Banco' (Sub-Manager of the Bank) | 'EL PRESIDENTE DE LA JUNTA DIRECTIVA GENERAL' (The President of the General Board of Directors) | 'AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY' (American Bank Note Company, New York) | Serial number '503596'. BACK SIDE: 'BANCO NACIONAL DE COSTARICA' (National Bank of Costa Rica) | 'DEPARTAMENTO EMISOR' (Issuing Department) | 'CINCO COLONES' (Five Colones) | 'PUENTE DE LA GARITA' (Garita Bridge) | 'AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY' (American Bank Note Company).

This note was produced using intaglio printing, as evidenced by the fine line patterns, intricate detail work, and dimensional relief characteristic of the engraving process. The American Bank Note Company of New York employed multi-color intaglio printing with color separation techniques, utilizing brown and green overprinting on multicolor underprints. The complex ornamental borders, fine line work in the landscape vignette, and detailed portraiture are all hallmarks of high-quality intaglio production. Security features rely on the intricacy of the engraved designs themselves, with the elaborate geometric and floral patterns serving as anti-counterfeiting measures.

This specific example is identified as Pick P-209c, the 1946 variety of the 5 Colones series. The visual analysis indicates 'SERIE G' and a date of October 16, 1946 (16 de Octubre de 1946). The note displays the 'SUB-GERENTE' (Sub-Manager) signature title overprint at right, confirming the standard signature configuration for this series. The serial number observed is 503596. Known variations within this Pick number include different signature combinations and signature line overprints corresponding to different officials (noted in external references as 1946; 13.8.1947; 31.8.1949; 30.11.1949; 14.12.1949), though this example specifically dates to the 1946 issue.