CVC & Collectables presents this 1850 JB Costa Rica 1 Real, certified NGC XF Details. Struck at the Casa Nacional de Moneda de Costa Rica in San José, this early First Republic silver issue features the distinctive designs of engraver Juan Barth. As the final year of the short-lived 1849–1850 Real series, the 1850 issue is desirable for its limited mintage, classic Central American motifs, and high-grade preservation.
Coin Highlights:
- Issuer: Costa Rica
- Period: First Republic (1848–1948)
- Mint: Casa Nacional de Moneda, San José
- Engraver / Assayer: Juan Barth (JB)
- Date: 1850
- Denomination: 1 Real
- Catalog: KM#66
- Metal: Silver (.750 fine)
- Weight: 2.90 g
- Diameter: 20 mm
- Shape: Round
- Technique: Milled
- Orientation: Medal alignment (↑↑)
- Grade: NGC XF Details
- Mintage: 43,007
- Obverse: Coffee tree flanked by value 1 R, with legend REPUBLICA DE COSTA-RICA and date.
- Reverse: Female bust within beaded circle; surrounding legend AMERICA CENTRAL with assayer’s initials J • B and fineness 9 D (0.750).
- Demonetized: Yes
Historical Note:
During the mid-19th century, Costa Rica’s economy rapidly expanded due to the growth of its coffee industry, which became its dominant export. Juan Barth’s Real series prominently incorporates the coffee tree as the national emblem of prosperity and independence.
The 1850 Real marks the end of this early silver series before Costa Rica transitioned to decimal coinage in the 1860s and later abandoned the Real entirely. Surviving examples are typically found heavily circulated; XF-level details are scarce.
Costa Rica:
- Era: Early First Republic after independence reforms.
- Political Setting: Strengthening of national institutions and economic expansion via agriculture.
- Coinage Context: Costa Rica modernized its minting techniques and national iconography; silver Reales featured local symbolism instead of colonial motifs.
- Legacy: Early Costa Rican silver is widely collected for its low mintages, distinctive designs, and cultural significance.
Collectibility:
XF-level detail on the 1850 JB Real is uncommon, as these small silver coins often saw heavy daily circulation. The coffee-tree obverse and finely engraved Central American reverse make this a standout type for collectors of early Central American republics, Costa Rican silver, or 19th-century Latin American fractional coinage. The short two-year type and limited mintage enhance its desirability. Find more alike here!
