Commemorative Coin of the 500th Anniversary of the Founding of Santa Marta - Available to the public starting Friday, 11 July 2025

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Banco de la República (the Central Bank of Colombia), in compliance with Law 2058 of 21 October 2020, issued a commemorative coin of the 500th anniversary of the founding of Santa Marta.

Please note that https://ext.bookitit.com/banrep (only in Spanish) is the only official website to schedule appointments to exchange the coin at Banco de la República.

Photograph of the coin’s obverse and reverse. The coin is silver-colored.

The obverse shows an image of the Casa de la Aduana, one of Santa Marta’s most emblematic buildings. Built by brothers Domingo and Nicolás Jimeno around 1730, it has served various purposes over its nearly 300-year history. It also includes an image of El Morro islet with its lighthouse, located in the bay in front of the city. In the upper part, there is a geometric pattern and the inscription “500 años de la fundación de Santa Marta” (500 years of the foundation of Santa Marta). The text “CASA DE LA ADUANA Santa Marta” (CUSTOMS HOUSE - Santa Marta) appears in the center, and in the lower part and concentrically, the commemorative period “1525-2025.”

In turn, the reverse shows a pectoral from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, a representative element of the region’s goldsmithing art. The inscription “PECTORAL NEHUANGE” appears above the image. In the upper part and concentrically, is the face value of the coin “VEINTE MIL PESOS” (TWENTY THOUSAND COLOMBIAN PESOS), a geometric pattern, and a latent image as a security feature that, depending on the angle from which it is viewed, will reflect the initials “BR” (which stand for Banco de la República) or the Arabic numeral “20.” the caption REPÚBLICA DE COLOMBIA (REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA) and the year “2025” appears in the lower part and concentrically.

The commemorative coin will be available to the public starting 11 July 2025. It may be purchased at Banco de la República's Treasury counters in Bogotá, the Luis Ángel Arango Library, and Casa Gómez Campuzano, as well as at Banco de la República’s branches and cultural agencies nationwide, upon appointment requested at https://ext.bookitit.com/banrep (only in Spanish) as per the schedule of each branch.

Photograph of the coin in an acrylic capsule in a cloth pouch with a leaflet containing information about its features.

Features

  • Alloy: White Alpacca (composed of 65% ±2 copper, 15% ±2 nickel, and 20% ±2 zinc)
  • Shape: circular with a diameter of 35 mm ±0.1
  • Weight: 21.75 g ±3.0%
  • Coin edge: reeded

Detailed photographs of low-relief engravings, number in Braille, and latent image security feature

Please note

  • The coin has a face value of COP 20,000, is of legal tender, and may be used for any monetary transaction for the equivalent of its face value.
  • The coin is delivered inside its acrylic capsule with a leaflet containing information about its features. The coin in a special case (optional) is available for COP 37,000 (while stocks last).
  • Only cash is accepted for the exchange.
  • A maximum of five (5) coins per user will be exchanged while stocks last (200,000 units), upon appointment request at https://ext.bookitit.com/banrep (only in spanish).

Detailed photograph of low-relief engravings, number in Braille, and latent image security feature.

To conduct the exchange

  • You will find the available schedules for each city on the booking platformm (only in Spanish). Only those who show a confirmed appointment request will be allowed to enter the building for the exchange.
  • Please note that this procedure is free of charge and does not require intermediaries.

According to the External Operational and Services Circular DTE-406, Subject 74: Treasury Services (only in Spanish), in order to carry out cash exchange transactions at the Treasury counters, you must submit one of the following original identity documents:

  • Valid citizenship ID card
  • First-time ID card or the certified duplicate-procedure ID.
  • Foreign ID card
  • Passport
  • Temporary Protection Permit
     

* Banco de la República’s Treasury Department’s current regulations establish as a requirement for cash exchange transactions the identification of the user through his/her citizenship card or (first-time or duplicate ID). Considering this, minors may carry out cash exchange transactions, including those related to commemorative coins issued by Banco de la República, through their parents or legal representatives, as per the Law.