BNCR reopens commemorative coin sales

Banco Nacional de Costa Rica (BNCR) will reopen sales of the commemorative coins for the Annexation of the Partido de Nicoya (launched in 2024) and the Abolition of the Army (2023), according to El Financiero (Randall Corella Vargas, 17 August 2026). Each collector piece costs ₡9,950 and comes in acrylic. CRHoy confirms the same dates and price.

That is not the face value: Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR) issued them as bimetallic ₡500 coins, 28 mm, in the “Milestones of our history” series. What returns to BN Shop is the collector format.

Dates, channel, and pickup

Regular sales start on 20 August at 9:30 and run through 31 December 2026 or until stock runs out, only at BN Shop. After purchase, pickup is from the third business day on the first floor of the main office, Monday to Friday, 10:30–12:30 and 13:30–17:30. For these two coins the cap is five units per design per person.

Surprise sales

The novelty is a monthly release of limited inventory of the most sought pieces. The first is planned for 25 August; what is sold and at what hour will be announced only on BN social channels and BN Shop. In that format the limit is one unit per person.

Claudia Salas, BN’s director of Commercial Issuance and Operations, said the scheme answers people who missed the original issues: more quota per person, faster pickup, and a digital channel.

What they commemorate

The Nicoya coin recalls the territory’s voluntary incorporation in 1824 (“De la patria por nuestra voluntad”). The Abolition coin refers to the 1948 decision to dissolve the armed forces and send the budget to education, health, and social development.

More detail in El Financiero and CRHoy.