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The National Flag of Costa Rica was officially adopted on November 27, 1906. The flag was designed in 1948 by Pacifica Fernandez, the wife of former Costa Rican President Jos茅 Mar铆a Castro Madriz. The First Lady was inspired by the colors of the flag of the 鈥楩rench Second Republic鈥� in the aftermath of the 1848 Revolution.

The National flag of Costa Rica is designed as a horizontal rectangle and features five horizontal bands of blue, white, and red. There are two blue bands - one at the top of the flag and another at the bottom, a thicker (double-wide) red band in the center, and two white bands in between. Costa Rica's national coat of arms is found on a white elliptical disk and is placed towards the hoist side of the red band of the flag. The blue color symbolizes the sky, opportunity, idealism, and perseverance. The white color denotes peace, happiness, and wisdom. The red color represents the bloodshed for freedom, as well as the generosity and vibrancy of the Costa Rican people. The five-color stripes are in the ratio of 1:1:2: 1:1. The flag has a length-width proportion ratio of 5:3. The white disk, upon with the coat of arms sits, is absent on Costa Rica鈥檚 civil ensign.

History of the Flag of Costa Rica

Being a part of the Spanish Empire, Costa Rica used the Spanish flag until its independence in 1823. Costa Rica joined the Federal Republic of Central America and retained the earlier blue-white-blue flag that was used by the United Provinces of Central America until 1848. In response to revolutionary activity in Europe, it was decided to incorporate the French colors into the national flag and a central red stripe was added to the flag. The Costa Rican flag that was without an emblem was adopted in 1848 and is still currently used as the country鈥檚 civil ensign. The design of Costa Rica's flag has been revised twice since its adoption, first in 1964 and again in 1998, to match modifications made to the country's coat of arms. The flag's original design included the coat of arms in the center of the flag, but it was moved toward the hoist edge when the flag was modified in 1906.

National Anthem

• Anthem Title: "Himno Nacional de Costa Rica"
• Music Composer: Manuel Mar铆a Guti茅rrez
• Lyricist: Jos茅 Maria Zeled贸n Brenes
• Date of Adoption: 1949聽

"Himno Nacional de Costa Rica"聽 is the national anthem of Costa Rica. The music of the anthem was composed by the Director of the Costa Rican National Army Orchestra - Manuel Mar铆a Guti茅rrez. The lyrics have been authored by Jos茅 Maria Zeled贸n Brenes. The music of the anthem was adopted on June 11, 1852. The current lyrics were added in 1903. The anthem was sung and played for the first time on September 15, 1949. The complete anthem were officially recognized as the National Anthem of Costa Rica in 1949.

The current official currency of Costa Rica is the Costa Rican col贸n (鈧�, CRC). The Costa Rican col贸n is subdivided into 100 centimos, and the currency's plural form is colones.

Coins

The first Costa Rican col贸n coins were introduced in 1897 and produced in denominations of 2, 5, 10, and 20 colones. The 50 centimos coin made from silver and 2 centimos coins made of cupro-nickel 2 were added in 1903, followed by 5 and 10 centimos coins in 1905, which included the letters G.C.R as an indication that the coins were issued by the government.

Between 1917 and 1919, subunits of the col贸n were renamed as centavos, rather than centimos. During this time, 5 and 10 centavos coins were issued, and a 50 centavo was produced but not put into circulation.

The government resumed introducing centimo coins in 1920, still bearing letters G.C.R, starting with 5 and 10 centimos coins. In 1923, 25 and 50 centimos coins made from silver, together with the unused 50 centavos coins, came into circulation. In 1925, the production of silver 25 centimos began, and between 1936 and 1941 brass 10 centimos coins were issued.

The production of cupro-nickel coins by the International Bank of Costa (B.I.C.R.) began in 1935, which came in various denomination, and included the letters B.I.C.R. However, between 1937 and 1948, the bank also introduced coins in the same denominations, but with B.N.C.R. printed on them. These denominations included 25 and 50 centimos, and one colon.

Since 1951, the Central Bank of Costa Rica has issued coins with B.C.C.R. printed on them and has also added 5 and 10 centimos coins. In 2009, the larger silver-colored 5, 10, and 20 col贸n coins were slowly removed from circulation, and replaced with lighter 5 and 10 col贸n coins and gold-colored 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 500 col贸n coins.

Banknotes

Banknotes were issued by private banks between 1896 to 1914. The Banco Anglo-Costarricense issued notes as early as 1864. The bank was later taken over by the state, but became bankrupt and closed in 1994. Another private bank, Banco de Costa Rica, established in 1890, started issuing banknotes in various denominations of pesos and col贸ns until 1914.

Gold certificates were issued by the government for various denominations of colones, and silver certificates were issued for 1, 2, 50, and 100 colones and 50 centimos between 1897 and 1917.

Banco Internacional and Banco Nacional issued banknotes of different denominations in 1914. The Banco Central de Costa Rica issued banknotes from 1950 to date, in denominations ranging from 5 to 100 colones.

Historical Currencies of Costa Rica

The Costa Rican peso was the former currency of the country. It was in circulation between 1850 and 1896. Prior to it, the real was the currency of Costa Rica. The real remained in circulation alongside the peso till 1864. The current Costa Rican col贸n replaced the peso in 1896.