The Banco Central de Costa Rica has multiple museums in its subterranean location underneath the Plaza de la Cultura in San Jose, Costa Rica. On the ground level is the pair “museums” of Museo Numismático and Casa de Moneda (while deeper down is the Museo del Oro Precolombino). These top two museums features the historical use of currency in Costa Rica and its oldest pieces are from 1516. You’ll see coins, banknotes, and tokens from private companies as well as proofs, dies, and a printing press.
Here are a few from the collection:
This interesting set with the die used to make them shows the Costa Rican Coat of Arms on one side, with what was supposed to be a native woman on the other. However, the design was created in Europe so they used a statue of the Roman goddess Diana as their model (as shown below).
On one hand it was nice that women featured prominently on coinage and banknotes, but on the other European models were frequently used.
Heck they even had the Mona Lisa on their money!
The above is actually a Guatemalan Proclamation of Independence Medal (1822) in silver. It represents the separation of America from Europe on one side with the Angel of Freedom, while the other shows a woman carving the date of independence September 15, 1821 into a pedestal. Its hard to see in this photo, but behind her are 5 monoliths to represent the 5 Central American provinces/states: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. I found this interesting as I don’t actually know a lot about Central America’s past.
Coins from the same era showed the Central America Coat of Arms including the 5 states as volcanoes. The postion of the sun was different to prevent people taking the lower value silver coins and slightly gold plating them and passing them off as full cold coins. The other side shows information on when it was minted and its worth, including a Ceiba tree as an emblem of freedom.
If you go:
The museum is underneath the Plaza de la Cultura in San Jose, Costa Rica. Take the ramp or stairs down and pass the gift shop. You will need to check your bags and large coats in a locker, and you cannot take photos of the vault doors.
The museum is open every day from 9:15 to 5PM
Cost for foreigners is 6,000 Colones or $11 USD.
Museum Monday is an every other week series about museum news, objects, and reviews.
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