1 Real Costa Rica

The Federal Republic of Central America was already fracturing by 1831 — El Salvador had revolted, regional caudillos were undermining federal authority, and the union would collapse entirely by 1838. Coins continued to be struck in the name of the Republic throughout this disintegration, making late issues from the Costa Rica mint increasingly provisional in character.

KM#21 was produced at San José, one of only two mints operating under federal authority in this period. The assayer initial on these pieces allows attribution to specific officials whose tenures help narrow dating within the 1831 emission.