What is Costa Rican colón?
{{Infobox Currency | currency_name_in_local = colón costarricense <small>{{in lang|es}}</small> | image_1 = | image_title_1 = | image_2 = | image_title_2 = | iso_code = CRC | using_countries = {{flag|Costa Rica}} | inflation_rate = 4.74% (Jan. - Dec. 2011) | inflation_source_date = ''[http://www.inec.go.cr/Web/Home/Noticia.aspx?id=5 Índice de Precios al Consumidor 2011]'', [[National Institute of Statistics and Census of Costa Rica|INEC Costa Rica]], 3 January 2012 | subunit_ratio_1 = 1/100 | subunit_name_1 = [[céntimo]] | symbol = ₡ | plural = colones | used_coins = 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500 colones | used_banknotes = 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 colones | issuing_authority = [[Central Bank of Costa Rica]] | issuing_authority_website = www.bccr.fi.cr }} The '''colón''' is the official [[currency]] of [[Costa Rica]]. It is named after [[Christopher Columbus]], known as Cristóbal Colón in [[Spanish language|Spanish]]. The plural is ''colones'' in Spanish. The [[ISO 4217]] code is CRC. The symbol for the colón is a ''c'' with two slashes (₡). The symbol for the colón in many English language Windows keyboards can be made by pressing {{key press|ALT}}+{{key press|8353}}. The colón sign is not the same as the [[USD|US cent]] sign, but the US cent sign is much more commonly available (¢). As such, it is frequently used instead of the colón's own sign in price markings and advertisements. The colón is divided into 100 [[céntimo|''centimos'']] ==History== The colón was introduced in 1896 and replaced the [[Costa Rican peso]]. Between 1917 and 1919 coins were issued using the name [[centavo]] for the 1/100 subunit. ==Coins== ===First coins, 1897–1917=== In 1897 [[gold]] 2, 5, 10 and 20 colones were issued. Later, [[silver]] 50 centimos and cupro-nickel 2 centimos were issued in 1903. In 1905 silver 5 and 10 centimos were issued. The 5 and 10 centimos had the initials G.C.R. (''Gobierno de Costa Rica'') because they were issued by the government. ===Government coins, 1920–1941=== The government res