50 colones 1981

Common. This commemorative issue circulated across multiple years (1978-1986) with multiple series designations (including the Series D specimen shown here), indicating substantial print runs. The eBay market data supports this assessment, with UNC specimens trading in the $23-40 range historically, which is typical for common commemorative notes. While commemorative issues have collector appeal, the extended issuance period and multiple series variants suggest widespread availability. No specific scarcity indicators are present for Pick P-251a in UNC condition.

This banknote was issued during a period when Costa Rica's Banco Central was honoring the centennial anniversary of its predecessor institution, Banco de Costa Rica, which had been founded in 1877. The reverse depicts the iconic neoclassical bank building in San José, serving as a visual testament to the institution's architectural heritage and prominence in Central American finance. The specific April 2, 1981 date marks one of several commemorative printings that extended from 1978 through 1986 to celebrate this centennial milestone.

The obverse features a formal portrait of Gaspar Ortuño y Crespo, a significant figure in Costa Rican financial history, positioned on the right side of the note in three-quarter profile facing right. He is depicted as a bearded gentleman in formal 19th-century attire with a suit jacket and white shirt collar. The left side of the note is dominated by elaborate guilloche patterns and a circular seal bearing the coat of arms of Costa Rica in red/pink tones. The denomination '50' appears in a large ornamental circular frame in the top left, rendered in fine engraved style. The overall color palette emphasizes beige and green with brown accents. The reverse depicts the grand neoclassical Banco de Costa Rica building in San José, shown in symmetrical architectural detail with multiple stories and regularly-spaced windows, flanked by period figures in the foreground. The commemorative text '1877-CENTENARIO BANCO DE COSTA RICA-1977' prominently frames the building, and circular ornamental frames containing the denomination appear in the top left and bottom left corners. A circular seal on the right side emphasizes the commemorative nature of the issue. The color scheme shifts to greens and blues with brown architectural rendering.

{"front":{"primaryInscriptions":[{"original":"CINCUENTA COLONES","translation":"Fifty Colones"},{"original":"BANCO CENTRAL DE COSTA RICA","translation":"Central Bank of Costa Rica"},{"original":"SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA","translation":"San José, Costa Rica"},{"original":"2 de abril 1981","translation":"April 2, 1981"},{"original":"SERIE D","translation":"Series D"},{"original":"GASPAR ORTUÑO Y CRESPO","translation":"Gaspar Ortuño y Crespo (portrait subject)"}],"secondaryInscriptions":[{"original":"ACUERDO DE LA JUNTA DIRECTIVA No 247","translation":"Board of Directors Agreement No. 247"},{"original":"PRESIDENTE EJECUTIVO","translation":"Executive President"},{"original":"GERENTE","translation":"Manager"}],"serialNumber":"D03666546"},"back":{"primaryInscriptions":[{"original":"CINCUENTA COLONES","translation":"Fifty Colones"},{"original":"BANCO CENTRAL DE COSTA RICA","translation":"Central Bank of Costa Rica"},{"original":"1877-CENTENARIO BANCO DE COSTA RICA-1977","translation":"1877-Centennial of Costa Rica's Bank-1977"},{"original":"AMÉRICA CENTRAL","translation":"Central America"},{"original":"50 C's","translation":"50 Colones (abbreviated)"},{"original":"THOMAS DE LA RUE & COMPANY, LIMITED","translation":"Thomas de la Rue & Company, Limited (printer attribution)"}]}}

This note was produced using intaglio (engraved) printing by Thomas de la Rue & Company, Limited, London, the world's preeminent security printer of the period. The visual analysis clearly reveals the characteristic fine line engraving throughout both the portrait and architectural rendering, with complex guilloche patterns serving as security features. The precision of the line work, the depth of the portrait rendering, and the intricate background patterns are all hallmarks of traditional intaglio engraving. The color variations, particularly in the serial number and security elements, indicate the use of multiple color passes typical of fine intaglio production.

This specimen is identified as Series D, dated April 2, 1981, with serial number D03666546. The catalog indicates Pick P-251a as the base designation, with PMG noting the existence of at least one variant (P-251b), though the distinguishing characteristics between these variants are not detailed in the available references. The presence of commemorative text '1877-CENTENARIO BANCO DE COSTA RICA-1977' on the reverse is a key identifying feature distinguishing this issue from later non-commemorative variants (Pick P-253 and P-257), which omit this centennial text. The series letter 'D' on both the obverse and as the prefix to the serial number indicates this is from one of the middle-period printings of the 1978-1986 issuance cycle.