  the colÃ³n (named after christopher columbus, known as cristÃ³bal colÃ³n in spanish) is the currency of costa rica. the plural is colones. the iso 4217 code is crc. the symbol for the colÃ³n is a capital letter "c" crossed by two diagonal strokes. the symbol is encoded at currency symbols and may be typed on many english language microsoft windows keyboards using the keystrokes +. the colÃ³n sign is not to be confused with , or with the ghanaian cedi, . nonetheless, the commonly available cent symbol 'Â¢' is frequently used locally to designate the colÃ³n in price markings and advertisements. the united states dollar is also accepted unofficially in some places throughout costa rica.costa rica - money ==history== the colÃ³n was introduced in 1896, replacing the costa rican peso at par. the colÃ³n is divided into 100 centimos, although, between 1917 and 1919, coins were issued using the name centavo for the 1/100 subunit of the colÃ³n. ==coins== ===first coins, 1897â1917=== because the colÃ³n replaced the peso at par, there was no immediate need for new coins in 1896. in 1897, gold 2, 5, 10 and 20 colones were issued, followed by silver 50 centimos, and followed by cupro-nickel 2 centimos in 1903 and silver 5 and 10 centimos in 1905. the 5 and 10 centimos bore the initials g.c.r., indicating that they were issues of the government. ===centavo issues, 1917â1919=== in 1917, coins were issued in denominations of 5 and 10 centavos rather than centimos. 50 centavo coins were minted but not issued (see below). all bore the g.c.r. initials. ===government issues, 1920â1941=== the issuance of centimo coins by the government (still indicated
1896_introductions Circulating_currencies Currencies_of_Costa_Rica