Costa Rican Banknotes are so beautiful – the 20.000 Colones Bill

Autor: J.S.P.

The 20,000 colones orange Costa Rican banknote was the first paper money to be remade in 2021 with a plastic substrate to make it last longer and be recyclable!

It features Maria Isabel Carvajal Quesada, a writer who used the pseudonym of Carmen Lyra. She created the first Montessori school in Costa Rica, co-founded the Communist Party, and organized one of the country's first female workers´ unions. She won many awards.

The outline of a rabbit petting a wolf on this banknote is taken from Lyra's written work entitled "Cuentos De Mi Tía Panchita" (Tales of my Aunt Panchita).

The nature theme of this particular note shows examples of the páramo ecosystem. These páramos, according to scientists, may be "evolutionary hotspots" and one of the fastest evolving regions on Earth. These are found in the northern Andes of South America and southern Central America.

The very small volcano hummingbird (Selasphorus flammula) is shown, native to the Talamanca Montana forests of Costa Rica and western Panama. This species takes its food from small flowers and also small insects as a source of protein. In lower elevations, a similar species can be found called the scintillant hummingbird.

One of the plants shown is the Senecio, which stems from a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family, including ragworts and groundsels. Some species produce natural biocides (especially alkaloids) to deter or even kill animals that would eat them. Senecio species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species.

Also shown is 'Coffea' -- a genus of flowering plants. Coffea species are shrubs or small trees native to tropical and southern Africa and tropical Asia. The seeds of some species, called coffee beans, are used to flavor various beverages and products. The fruits, like the seeds, contain a large amount of caffeine, have a distinctly sweet taste and are often juiced. The plant is one of the world's most valuable and widely traded commodity crops. It is an important export product of several countries, including those in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Africa.

I hope you have enjoyed the series of articles about the beautiful Costa Rican banknotes! Indeed, these banknotes reflect the astonishing culture and surroundings of this amazing country.