Obverse

Costa Rica coat of arms. Stars represent the Costa Rica provinces, three extinct volcanoes for the three mountain ranges, two ships symbolizing the country's geographical situation between atlantic and pacific ocean and sunrise on the left.
In 1964, the number of stars went from 5 to 7 as Puntarenas and Limon reached the province status

Lettering: 
REPUBLICA DE COSTA RICA
1970 

Reverse

Value within a laurel wreath and initials of the "Banco Central de Costa Rica"

Lettering: 
AMERICA CENTRAL
1 COLON
B.C.C.R. 

Edge

Smooth with inscription

Lettering: BCCR