Costa Rica. ½ Escudo (1849-57). Fr-5a; KM-80. Weight 0.0450 ounce. Lion type VI Countermark on Central American Republic 1841-JB ½ Escudo (KM-13). PCGS graded AU-58. In special PCGS Ship of Gold holder which contains One Pinch of Gold Dust recovered from the S.S. Central America treasure.
Special PCGS number 674132.58/35474672. Estimated Value $500 - UP
In 1856-1857, Costa Rica was heavily involved in the Filibuster War against the American adventurer William Walker. He had intervened in the Nicaraguan civil war of 1855 and by 1856 had established himself as president of Nicaragua. Juan Rafael Mora, the president of Costa Rica declared war on Walker and his filibusters (foreign mercenaries), who had mounted a failed invasion of Costa Rica in March 1856. The filibuster forces were repelled after a 14-minute battle at Santa Rosa and in April, the Costa Ricans responded by entering Nicaragua and inflicting a major defeat on the filibusters at Rivas. Unfortunately, while this action brought Rivas under Costa Rican control and forced Walker to flee, the victors were decimated by an outbreak of cholera, which was subsequently brought home to Costa Rica. The remainder of 1856 was spent campaigning on the San Juan River in order to seize it from Walker and prevent him from using it and the steamers of the Transit Company to acquire additional weapons and men. By January 1857, Costa Rican forces had full control of the river and its fleet of steamers, thereby strangling Walker's supply line and creating the opportunity for the Septentrión Army of the Central American allies to force the adventurer to surrender to the U.S. Navy and return to the United States. For his role in the conflict, Mora was hailed a Central American hero, but the high cost in money and lives-especially from the cholera outbreak-turned public opinion against him and in 1859 he was overthrown in a coup.