The 5000 Colones 2012 banknote was issued by the Central Bank of Costa Rica as part of the redesigned family of notes introduced in the 2010s, with updated colors, layouts, and enhanced security features.
The obverse features Alberto Manuel Brenes (1870–1948), a renowned Costa Rican naturalist and botanist who contributed significantly to the study and conservation of the nation’s flora.
The reverse depicts the Bosque Seco Tropical (Tropical Dry Forest) ecosystem, showcasing characteristic species such as the white-tailed deer, trees, and vegetation typical of Guanacaste.
Security elements include watermarks, color-shifting ink, tactile marks for the visually impaired, and embedded threads. The banknote is printed on cotton paper with advanced anti-counterfeiting measures.
The banknote measures approximately 137 × 67 mm.
Obverse
Yellow underprint with purple illustration.
Portrait of Alfredo González Flores at left. Banco Internacional de Costa Rica building (San José) at center.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
5 MIL COLONES
COSTA RICA
5000
Translation: 5 Thousand Colones, Costa Rica
Reverse
Mangrove swamp, flowers, crab, monkey
Script: Latin
Lettering:
MANGLAR
BANCO CENTRAL DE COSTA RICA
5 MIL COLONES
Translation:
Mangrove
Central Bank of Costa Rica
5 Thousand Colones
Watermark
Portrait of Alfredo González
© Kiet Tran (CC BY-SA)
Printer
Oberthur Fiduciaire (Francois-Charles Oberthur Fiduciaire; FCO; Oberthur Technologies), France (1984-date)
Comments
UV activity:
© Kiet Tran
Features
| Issuer | Costa Rica |
|---|---|
| Issuing bank | Central Bank of Costa Rica (Banco Central de Costa Rica) |
| Period | Second Republic (1948-date) |
| Type | Standard circulation banknotes |
| Years | 2009-2012 |
| Value | 5000 Colones 5000 CRC = GBP 7.31 |
| Currency | Colón (1896-date) |
| Composition | Paper |
| Size | 139 × 67 mm |
| Shape | Rectangular |
