The Central Bank of Costa Rica published its 2025 calendar for issuing redesigned coins (CRC 10, CRC 25, CRC 50, CRC 100 and CRC 500) under its collections programme and confirmed the withdrawal of two older coins from circulation. The prior-design gold-coloured CRC 50 coin (27.5 mm) and CRC 500 coin (33 mm) will cease to be legal tender on 1 July 2025. Those older CRC 50 and CRC 500 coins remain valid for transactions until 30 June 2025 and, from 1 July 2025, may only be exchanged or deposited at entities in the national financial system; the central bank stressed they do not lose their face value but will be removed to enable gradual replacement by the new designs. The redesigned coin series includes smaller and lighter coins (including a reduced-diameter CRC 500), copper-based alloys intended to improve durability and machine recognition, alternating metallic tones by denomination, and updated design and security features. On new issues, the central bank outlined that the CRC 500 coin will continue to be mass-issued, with 25 million pieces already issued across existing commemorative reverses, and the CRC 500 remains valid regardless of reverse design. It also set indicative release months for 2025: CRC 10 (single National Coat of Arms design) from March; CRC 25 (Emblematic Sites of the Provinces) in March, June, September and December for the first four motifs; CRC 50 (Fauna of Ecosystems) with four additional motifs planned for February, May, August and October; and CRC 100 (Intangible Cultural Heritage) with the first two motifs planned for July and October. The months are estimates and each release will be preceded by a formal announcement.

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