Sale: Triton VIII, Lot: 1502. Estimate $200.  Closing Date: Monday, 10 January 2005.  Sold For $375. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CENTRAL AMERICAN REPUBLIC (Costa Rica). 1823-1839. AV Two Escudos (6.26 gm, 12h). San José mint; JB, assayer. Dated 1850. REPUBLICA DEL CENTRO DE AMERICA, •1850•, chain link edge, sun rising above mountain range, consisting of five mountains / LIBRE CREZCA FECUNDO, C R•J•B• 21QS, 2• E• across field, tree. Friedberg 3 (Costa Rica); KM 15. VF, mount removed from edge, scratches. ($200)

The Central American states, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatamala and Honduras, followed Mexico's lead and declared their independence from Spain in 1821. The states had originally considered asking to join the United States, but after a brief occupation by Mexico they declared full independence as a Confederation in 1823. The central government never had strong powers, and one by one the separate countries went their own way. Costa Rica was the last to strike coinage in the name of the Republic, eleven years after it had technically dissolved.